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Dating From the Inside Out
by Susan
S. Davis
The
OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) Love Connection
Scientific studies have shown, that the
evolutionary consequences of love more than likely
have a long-established biological process connected
to it. Serotonin (the neurotransmitter, derived from
tryptophan, involved in sleep, depression, memory,
and other neurological processes, also known as 5-HT),
may be linked to both neuroticism and sexual behavior,
as well as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
In 1999, research conducted by University of Pisa psychiatrist,
Donatella Marazziti, attempted to identify the physiological
origins of love. The study involved measuring Serotonin
levels in the blood, of people suffering from obsessive
compulsive disorder, which she expanded by adding people
who were in love, since, it was reasoned, those individuals
can be rather obsessive, as well. The study won
Ig Nobel Prize in 2000 (Psychological Medicine, Vol.
29, p. 741, 1999).
The
team of researchers found 17 female, and 3 male volunteer
students who had recently fallen in love, and obsessed
about a new love, for at least four hours every day,
but who had not yet consummated the relationship with
sex. A separate group of people with OCD was studied
at the same time, in addition to a control group.
All
of the subjects were tested for the presence of a Serotonin
transporter protein in their blood platelets. The control
group was normal. As Dr. Marazziti expected, from earlier
studies, the people as were the people in love.
Though
blood Serotonin is not a perfect substitute to measure
Serotonin levels in the brain, it's an interesting
theory that from a biochemical standpoint, falling
in love can, in fact, provoke madness. In fact, there
are numerous articles, essays, books, poems, films
and documentaries on that very subject.
Particularly,
The Madness of a Seduced Woman, by Susan Fromberg Schaeffer
is a very realistic portrayal of obsession, chronicling
how a woman's obsession grows, and eventually takes
over her life. The story describes, in very subtle
detail, how the protagonist first discovers men and
relationships. Her first relationship, was with the
perfect "nice" man, who completely
falls for her. Quickly becoming tired of his doting,
she becomes interested in, and then, obsessed with, an “untouchable” man,
who, the more he led her on, the more drawn to him she
became. Repeatedly giving her just enough attention to
engage her, and give her reason to believe; he would
just as quickly disappear. Ultimately, the story ends
in a tragic turn, with a crime of passion, a courtroom
drama, and a declaration of insanity. If this character’s
Serotonin levels were measured, it is certain that they
would probably be off the charts.
With respect to Dr.
Marazziti’s study, some of the students who were
in love, when tested a year later, thankfully, were found
to have normal Serotonin levels.
The similarities between
the typical topics in the early phase of a love relationship,
and obsession, has prompted scientists to explore the
possibility that the two situations may have alterations
at the level of the 5-HT transporter, in common.
From
a scientific standpoint, 20 subjects who had recently
(within the previous 6 months) fallen in love, consisting
of 20 unmedicated OCD patients and 20 normal controls,
were included. The 5-HT transporter was evaluated with
the specific binding of 3H-paroxetine (3H-Par) to platelet
membranes. The results showed that the density of 3H-Par
binding sites was significantly lower in subjects who
had recently fallen in love and in OCD patients than
in controls.
The main finding of the study was that
subjects who were in the early romantic phase of a
love relationship, were the same as OCD patients in
terms of the density of the platelet 5-HT transporter,
which proved to be significantly lower than in the
normal controls. This finding suggests that common
neurochemical changes involving the 5-HT system, are
in fact, linked to psychological dimensions, and shared
by the two situations.
The above
study indicates why it can be dangerous for people
to indulge in physical sexuality before they are ready,
or before they have had a chance to build a form of
trust with a partner. The chemicals, and their affects,
are palpable, and it has now been proven scientifically,
that a connection does exist when the line of physicality
is crossed on an intimate level.
Without becoming too
preachy or religious here, interestingly, statistics
have indicated, that conservative Christians (also
referred to as modern-day "Victorians") actually enjoy
the most satisfying sex lives. To wit, Redbook Magazine
conducted a reader survey and found, to its surprise,
that women who characterized themselves as "strongly
religious" reported greater sexual satisfaction
than the nonreligious survey respondents.
The above
illustrates the psychological changes that can occur
during a sexual relationship, and the possibility that
better sexual lives can be aspired to, through deeper
levels of commitment. Perhaps, then, it might not be
too bad an idea, to at least thoroughly understand
the ramifications of what goes on chemically, within
our own bodies, that can affect us emotionally, before
embarking upon a sexual relationship of any kind.
Susan
S. Davis is a published book author and
writer, currently doing research for a romantic screenplay
she is writing. Her Dating
From The Inside Out column
is published every Tuesday.
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