Though they are different disorders, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and trichotillomania share some common features. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, the DSM-IV-TR, describes OCD as "an anxiety disorder characterized by complaints of persistent or repetitive thoughts (obsessions) or behaviors (compulsions)." Trichotillomania is a disorder that usually has a childhood onset and involves the compulsive pulling out of hair, mostly from the head and face. The disorders share an addictive quality that is rooted in anxiety; they may also co-occur. Given this relationship, scientists have looked at whether certain compounds such as lysine may play a role in these disorders.
What is Lysine?
Lysine is an amino acid that is sometimes referred to as L-lysine. It is an essential amino acid which the body requires to help build parts of skin, muscle and bone that protect bodily systems throughout life. Even though the body needs lysine, it cannot make it, so individuals must ingest it through diet. Common sources of lysine are beans, eggs, meat and nuts. When lysine deficiencies occur it can cause nausea and fatigue as well as dizziness and agitation. Because of these symptoms, and the use of lysine, scientists have looked at the role of the particular acid in mood disorders.
Lysine and Anxiety
Since at their core, OCD and trichotillomania are anxiety-based disorders, research looking at what may help focuses on anxiety as a broad term. In 2007 researchers in Japan studied the effects of treating groups of people known to have trait and state anxiety, which means they have a naturally high sensitivity to being anxious, with two different forms of lysine. They gave the groups the lysine compounds for one week and then exposed them to stressful situations. The results, which were published in the journal of Biomedical Research, showed that trait anxiety and state anxiety were diminished by lysine.
Community Based Models
One way to examine the role of particular nutrients in anxiety is to study communities where vitamin and mineral deficiency remains prevalent. In 2004, Japanese researchers looked at stress and anxiety responses in a poor area of Northern Syria where the main food consumed is unfortified wheat. In their experiment, which was published in "Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences," a group of villagers were given the lysine compounds to supplement their diet versus placebo. The lysine group was found to have a decreased anxiety response when faced with stressful situations.
Putting it All Together
OCD and trichotillomania represent very specific types of anxiety based disorders involving obsessive behaviors that may become addictive. As such, research on these disorders will fall under studies conducted on stress response and anxiety as a whole. At the time of this publication in June 2011 the FDA has not approved lysine in the treatment of OCD or trichotillomania. However, research does support the idea that a healthy diet rich in amino acids such as lysine remains important for physical and mental health.
References
- "The Diagnostic and Statistcal Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th Edition"; The American Psychiatric Association; 1994
- "Biomedical Research"; Oral treatment with L-lysine and L-arginine Reduces Anxiety and Basal Cortisol Levels in Healthy Humans; M Smriga, et al.; 2007
- "Proceedings of the National Academy of Scienes of the USA";Lysine fortification Reduces Anxiety and Lessens Stress in Family Members in Economically Weak Communities in Northwest Syria; M Smriga, et al; 2004
