Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is a type of anxiety disorder characterized by recurrent, intrusive, unwanted thoughts. Research indicates a genetic predisposition for OCD. Many people with OCD have one or more family members who also have it or who may have other anxiety disorders influenced by the brain's serotonin levels, such as panic disorder. Although OCD is a chronic and oftentimes debilitating disorder, the specific impact of this illness on the psychosocial functioning of affected youngsters has not been systematically described. According to a recent report from the International Obsessive-Compulsive Foundation (IOCDF), “there is evidence that OCD which begins in childhood may be different than OCD that begins in adulthood. Individuals with childhood-onset OCD appear much more likely to have blood relatives that are affected with the disorder than are those whose OCD first appears when they are adults”. In fact, one recent study found that children with OCD are much more likely to have a close relative with OCD when compared to the general population. This finding suggests that, while the cause of OCD is not fully understood, genetics plays a significant role in the development of OCD symptoms, and that the condition appears to be heritable. In fact, recent research has uncovered six specific genes which appear to play a role in the development of OCD. Unfortunately, researchers do not yet understand the exact mechanism that connects these genes to the onset of OCD symptoms. OCD is a severe, highly prevalent and chronically disabling disorder that usually emerges during childhood or adolescence. Neuroimaging studies play an important role in advancing our understanding of the pathophysiology of OCD and in developing neurocircuitry models of this psychiatric illness. One of the critical issues in research on OCD is examining the neurological correlates of the disorder.