Evaluation of serum MIF levels in obsessive compulsive disorder patients: a case-control study

Abstract

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a mental disorder where time consuming and disturbing unwanted obsessions and compulsions are observed. Various research has been done on the biological markers of OCD to determine a relation between these indicators and OCD. But none of the studies on the biomarkers has been able to demonstrate enough sensitivity and specificity and thus none are used for diagnostic studies till now. To help contribute in this field, this study was designed to find out the relationship of MIF in OCD. In this case-controlled study, 220 patients clinically diagnosed with OCD and 208 healthy controls from different regions of Bangladesh were enrolled. The serum samples were analyzed by using ELISA kit for the measurement of serum MIF. The serum MIF levels were significantly increased in patients with OCD compared with healthy controls. The findings of this study provide preliminary evidence of a possible association between serum MIF levels and OCD which may support the possible role of immune and inflammatory mechanisms in the pathophysiology of OCD.