7 Advances in OCD Genomics: Latin American Trans-Ancestry
Introduction: A Story from My Clinic Chair
The other day, I was between sessions in my clinic here in Edinburgh when I came across something that completely shifted my perspective on OCD. I’m Federico Ferrarese, a CBT therapist specialising in OCD treatment, and I’d like to share with you what I discovered and why it could be so significant for our understanding of OCD.
Picture this for a second. I was reading about a groundbreaking study focusing on OCD genetics in Latin America. And I just thought, wow. So many of my clients come in feeling like OCD is this mysterious monster that just appeared in their lives. They ask, “Why me?” all the time. And here’s a study trying to answer exactly that – not just for Europeans, but for people with Latin American ancestry as well.
Can you imagine what it would feel like to finally understand why OCD shows up for some people and not others? To have treatments tailored to your genetic background rather than feeling like you’re just another name on a waiting list?
That’s what this research is trying to do. Today, I want to unpack it for you in the simplest way possible. No jargon. No stuffy academic talk. Just a clear explanation about what the Latin American Trans-Ancestry Initiative in OCD Genomics is doing, why it matters, and what it could mean for people like you and me.
Ready to dive in?
What is the Latin American Trans-Ancestry Initiative in OCD Genomics?
Overview of the LATINO OCD Genetics Study
The Latin American Trans-Ancestry Initiative in OCD Genomics, known as LATINO, is a groundbreaking genetics study aiming to identify OCD risk genes in people of Latin American ancestry.
Why Was the LATINO OCD Genetics Study Created?
Almost 100% of OCD genetics research so far has focused on European populations (Crowley et al., 2023). The LATINO study exists to close this gap and improve understanding of OCD in underrepresented communities. Ignoring non-European ancestries leaves massive holes in our knowledge and contributes to global health disparities.
Who Leads the Latin American Trans-Ancestry Initiative in OCD Genomics?
The study is led by top researchers, including Eric Storch, PhD, at Baylor College of Medicine, and James Crowley, PhD, at the University of North Carolina (Storch et al., 2025), alongside an extensive team of Latin American clinicians and academics.
Which Countries Participate in the LATINO OCD Genetics Study?
With over 45 sites in 13 countries, LATINO collects data in Spanish, Portuguese, and English, ensuring cultural and linguistic relevance for all participants. It is one of the largest collaborative networks ever created for OCD genetics research in Latin America.
What Does ‘Trans-Ancestry’ Mean in OCD Genetics Research?
The term “trans-ancestry” refers to the study of analysing genetic data across multiple ancestries. This approach improves the accuracy of genetic risk models, identifies OCD genes relevant globally, and helps reduce health disparities in mental health research. By combining Latin American data with existing European-focused datasets, researchers can build a far clearer picture of OCD genetics worldwide.
Why is Trans-Ancestry Research Important for OCD Treatment?
By including diverse populations, LATINO ensures that future OCD treatments and risk assessments are effective and fair for everyone, not just those of European descent. This inclusivity paves the way for tailored treatments and more precise diagnostic tools for all.
Why Focus on Genetics in OCD?
OCD Isn’t Just in Your Mind
Here’s the truth. OCD is highly heritable – nearly 50% of risk comes from genetics, and first-degree relatives have a four to eight times higher risk (Storch et al., 2025). That’s why understanding genes isn’t just about lab coats and Petri dishes – it’s about real families, real lives, and creating more effective treatments.
The Four Dimensions of OCD
To quickly recap, OCD often manifests in four primary dimensions: contamination, symmetry or order, taboo thoughts, and checking. Knowing which genes influence these can shape targeted treatments in the future. Imagine therapy or medication tailored specifically to your OCD subtype. That is the potential promise of this research.
Project Progress – What Has LATINO Achieved So Far?
Recruitment Milestones
So far, LATINO has recruited 5,124 participants. Their original goal was to collect data from 5,000 deeply phenotyped OCD cases, so they have already surpassed expectations (Storch et al., 2025).
Deep Phenotyping Explained
Rather than using brief questionnaires, LATINO collects detailed information about each participant. This includes symptom severity, comorbid conditions like depression or PTSD, and cultural context. Such depth ensures genetic findings are not only statistically significant but clinically relevant for developing future interventions.
Key Accomplishments of LATINO
Translations and Cultural Adaptations
One aspect most websites don’t discuss is LATINO’s commitment to inclusion. The team has translated more than 20 clinical measures into Spanish and another 20 into Portuguese, validating these tools within Latin American samples (Storch et al., 2025). This massively expands the capacity for global OCD research and culturally appropriate assessment.
Publications and Knowledge Sharing
Recent papers include the Latin American Trans-Ancestry Initiative for OCD Genomics: Study Protocol (Crowley et al., 2023) and research validating the Spanish version of the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale – Second Edition (Pinciotti et al., in press). Many more manuscripts are in progress, spanning topics from TMS treatment efficacy to OCD stigma in youth.
Training Future Clinicians and Researchers
Beyond genetics, LATINO is developing training networks, connecting junior researchers with leading experts across Latin America and the US, and creating libraries of OCD training materials in Spanish. This builds sustainable expertise that will benefit communities for generations.
What’s Next for LATINO?
Genetic Analysis of Collected Samples
LATINO is now analysing over 4,700 samples to identify genome-wide significant loci relevant to Latin American ancestry. This could uncover genes that were missed in European-only studies, opening up new pathways for treatment development.
Phenotypic Data Analysis
They are also examining how comorbidities, symptom profiles, and cultural contexts influence OCD presentation and treatment response. This analysis will help design interventions that are both biologically and culturally informed.
LATINO 2.0
The next phase aims to refine polygenic risk score models and extend research to include other underrepresented populations, strengthening global mental health equity.
How Does This Research Help OCD Sufferers in the UK?
Personalised Treatments in the Future
Imagine knowing which treatment is most likely to work for you based on your genetic profile. Genetic insights could predict whether someone will respond better to ERP therapy or medication, identify treatment-resistant subtypes earlier, and inform therapy planning to maximise results.
As a CBT therapist based in Edinburgh specialising in OCD treatment, I see this potential daily. While genetic testing isn’t yet standard in clinical practice, this research lays the foundation for more personalised, effective care in the years to come.
Breaking Cultural Barriers in Mental Health
Many clients from Latin American backgrounds feel invisible in global research. LATINO changes that narrative by including their experiences and genetics in OCD studies, fostering dignity, inclusion, and hope for fairer mental health care worldwide.
How Can We Help You Today?
ERP Therapy for OCD
While genetic research is promising, we must remember what works right now. Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) therapy remains the gold-standard treatment for OCD, helping you face your fears and resist compulsions gradually. If you’re struggling, please don’t hesitate to reach out. ERP can help you reclaim your life, one step at a time.
Conclusion: The Future of OCD Genetics
Here’s what I think. LATINO isn’t just a research study – it’s a movement towards equity, inclusion, and understanding OCD at its roots. It gives hope that one day, no one will have to wonder why treatment isn’t working for them, because we will finally understand OCD from the inside out.
So, what do you think about genetics shaping the future of OCD treatment?
This article is an original commentary and synthesis by Federico Ferrarese based on the IOCDF 2025 conference presentation (Storch et al., 2025) and is not a direct reproduction of any published paper.
References:
Crowley, J. J., et al. (2023). Latin American Trans-Ancestry Initiative for OCD Genomics: Study Protocol. PubMed ID: 37946624.
Morris, S., et al. (2024). Obsessive-compulsive disorder among individuals of Hispanic and Latin American ancestry: Cultural considerations for assessment and psychotherapy. PubMed ID: 37946624.
Pinciotti, C., et al. (in press). Psychometric Properties of the Spanish Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale – Second Edition. PubMed ID: 40188616.