UNCOMPLICATED PACHYCHOROID IN RELATION TO OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE DISORDER: AN OCT-ANGIOGRAPHY STUDY.

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to evaluate potential changes in choroidal flow in patients with newly diagnosed obsessive-compulsive disorder based on optical coherence tomography angiography findings and to investigate the relationship between subfoveal choroidal thickness and choriocapillaris flow area.

METHODS

This prospective study included newly diagnosed obsessive-compulsive disorder patients and healthy controls. All patients underwent enhanced depth imaging-optical coherence tomography imaging to assess the subfoveal choroidal thickness and optical coherence tomography angiography imaging to evaluate the choriocapillaris flow area.

RESULTS

A total of 55 patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder and 50 controls were included. The mean subfoveal choroidal thickness was significantly greater in the obsessive-compulsive disorder group compared to the control group (p˂0.001). Regarding the choriocapillaris flow area, the values for area with a radius of 1 mm, 2 mm and 3 mm were significantly lower in the obsessive-compulsive disorder group than in the control group (p=0.019, p=0.014, and p=0.004, respectively). There was a significant negative correlation between subfoveal choroidal thickness and choriocapillaris flow area with a radius of 1mm (r=-0.387, p=0.024).

CONCLUSION

Choroidal changes in obsessive-compulsive disorder patients suggest the choroidal features of uncomplicated pachychoroid. Obsessive-compulsive disorder may be prone to a spectrum of conditions characterized by pachychoroid features.