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Neuropsychological function in obsessive-compulsive disorder: effects of comorbid conditions on task performance

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 April 2020

Ayse Aycicegi ,
Wayne M. Dinn ,
Catherine L. Harris  and
Husnu Erkmen
Ayse Aycicegi
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Istanbul University, Turkey
Wayne M. Dinn*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Boston University, 64 Cummington Street, Boston, MA02215, USA
Catherine L. Harris
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Boston University, 64 Cummington Street, Boston, MA02215, USA
Husnu Erkmen
Affiliation:
Bakirkoy Psychiatric Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
*
2Corresponding author. dinn@bu.edu
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Abstract

Background

Neuropsychological testing reveals a pattern of impairment among patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) which implicates the orbitofrontal region. Studies of neuropsychological function in OCD differ regarding performance deficits on classical tests of frontal executive function. In some studies, OCD patients did not demonstrate impaired performance on tests of executive function. However, other researchers have documented performance deficits among OCD patients on measures of executive function. Patients with OCD also exhibit performance deficits on tests of visual/spatial memory and verbal memory. Again, in some studies, OCD patients did not demonstrate impaired performance on tests of memory function. How can we account for the conflicting findings? One possibility is that performance deficits on tests of cognitive function are associated with comorbid conditions. In prior work, we observed that OCD patients who did poorly on executive function tasks obtained high scores on a measure of schizotypal personality. A second possibility is that executive function deficits among patients with OCD are associated with comorbid depressive symptoms.

Method

In the present study, a comprehensive neuropsychological test battery was administered to patients with OCD and matched healthy control subjects. We also administered dimensional measures of schizotypal personality and depression to patients with OCD and controls. We conducted analyses of covariance (ANCOVA), with scores on measures of schizotypal personality and depression used as covariates.

Results

OCD patients demonstrated performance deficits on measures of delayed memory, response inhibition, alternation learning, and obtained significantly higher scores on measures of disinhibition, impulsivity, and temporolimbic symptoms; however, OCD patients did not exhibit impaired performance on tests of executive function and verbal fluency, and did not report a significantly greater number of dysexecutive symptoms, when coexistent depressive and schizotypal symptoms were taken into account.

Conclusion

Findings are consistent with the contention that dysfunction of an orbitofrontal-limbic network underlies OCD.

Keywords

Obsessive-compulsive disorderNeuropsychologicalOrbitofrontalExecutive functionSchizotypal personalityDepressive symptoms
Type
Original article
Information
European Psychiatry , Volume 18 , Issue 5 , August 2003 , pp. 241 - 248
Copyright
Copyright © Éditions scientifiques et médicales Elsevier SAS 2003

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