OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE DISORDER IN GIFTED ADULTS

Authors

  • Fabiano de Abreu Agrela Rodrigues Centro de Pesquisa e Análises Heráclito (CPAH)
  • Flávio Henrique dos Santos Nascimento Centro de Pesquisa e Análises Heráclito (CPAH)
  • Júlia Lima do Espírito Santo Centro de Pesquisa e Análises Heráclito (CPAH)
  • Luciana Schermann Azambuja Centro de Pesquisa e Análises Heráclito (CPAH)
  • Adriel Pereira da Silva Centro de Pesquisa e Análises Heráclito (CPAH)

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47180/omij.v6i1.365

Keywords:

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Giftedness, Neurosciences, Genomics, Neuropsychology

Abstract

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a chronic and cyclical neuropsychiatric condition that can manifest in a particular way in gifted individuals. This article explores the intricate relationship between giftedness and the recurrence or exacerbation of OCD symptoms in adulthood. Giftedness, characterized by high cognitive abilities, also confers specific vulnerabilities such as cortical hyperactivity, perfectionism, and mental overload, which can act as "neurological fertilizers" for the development or reactivation of OCD. The study addresses the neuropsychological and neurological bases of OCD's return, highlighting the role of brain circuits like the cortico-striatal-thalamo-cortical loop. Psychosocial, emotional, and cognitive factors that can reactivate the condition in gifted adults are discussed, including chronic stress, idealized goal failures, and cognitive overload. The article also analyzes the specificities of the gifted mind, such as high metacognitive awareness, logical rigor, and intolerance to errors, which can predispose to disguised mental obsessions. Finally, partial results from a genomic study investigating SNPs and genes related to OCD in individuals with different IQs are presented, suggesting a polygenic predisposition that requires further investigation.

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Published

2025-07-02

How to Cite

Agrela Rodrigues, F. de A. A. R., dos Santos Nascimento, F. H., do Espírito Santo, J. L., Azambuja, L. S. ., & da Silva, A. P. (2025). OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE DISORDER IN GIFTED ADULTS. Open Minds International Journal, 6(1), 265–273. https://doi.org/10.47180/omij.v6i1.365

Issue

Vol. 6 No. 1 (2025): Dossiê Temático: Diálogos contemporâneos: educação, língua(gem), cultura e sociedade

Section

Health education

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