Episode 1: Genetics, DNA and OCD — with Nora Strom

Could one of the biggest contributors to OCD risk be written in our DNA? In Episode 1 of The OCD Research Podcast, geneticist Nora Strom joins Christian and Andrew to explore what the largest-ever genetic study of OCD can tell us about the disorder — and, just as importantly, what it cannot. Nora explains how genome-wide association studies work, how analysing DNA from tens of thousands of people led researchers to identify 30 regions of the genome associated with OCD, and why these findings are useful for understanding OCD at a population level but cannot currently predict whether an individual will develop the disorder. They also discuss: • Why genetic factors are estimated to account for around 40–50% of variation in OCD risk • Why a high genetic risk is a probability, not a certainty — “genetics is never destiny” • The genetic overlap between OCD, tic disorders, anorexia nervosa and anxiety disorders • What genetics can tell us about OCD symptoms existing on a spectrum • How genes and environment interact • Why current genetic datasets need much greater representation beyond people of European ancestry • The ethical implications and historical misuse of genetic research • Why finding genes associated with OCD is only the beginning of understanding how they affect the brain and behaviour Along the way, a vegan-restaurant analogy helps explain why genetic studies can reveal patterns across thousands of people without necessarily allowing us to make predictions about one individual. Nora’s central message is clear: genetics is an important piece of the OCD puzzle, but it is only one part of a much more complex picture. Resources Nora Strom — University Hospital Würzburg: https://www.ukw.de/en/psychiatry/team/ ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/... Largest OCD genome-wide association study, Nature Genetics (2025): https://www.nature.com/articles/s4158... Help make OCD research faster and more representative by joining the Orchard OCD Registry: https://orchardocdregistry.org/ Learn more about Orchard OCD: https://www.orchardocd.org/