#Sciennews

A new study suggests obsessive-compulsive disorder may originate not only in the brain but also in the gut. Researchers in China found evidence that gut bacteria—the microbiome—could play a causal role in OCD. This shifts the conversation about a condition that affects up to 3 percent of people worldwide and has long challenged effective treatment.

For Thai readers, the findings arrive amid growing attention to mental health in Thailand, where OCD care remains largely therapy and medication-based. SSRIs are common, but a substantial portion of patients—roughly one-quarter to two-fifths—do not experience meaningful relief. The new perspective could inspire broader approaches to help patients and families.