An empirical review on oxidative stress markers and their relevance in obsessive-compulsive disorder

Oxidative stress results from imbalance in the generation of oxidative free radicals in the body and neutralizing antioxidant mechanisms. It hampers various cellular biochemical processes causing dysfunction of the neurons. Reactive oxygen species and reactive nitrogen species are the two important systems regulating the body's oxidative stress. Oxidative stress has a role in several psychiatric disorders including obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and other anxiety disorders. Various studies have found elevated levels of malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and catalase in patients with OCD, which are considered the markers of oxidative stress. This review discusses the relevance of oxidative stress in OCD.