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Neuropsychological functioning in early- and late-onset obsessive-compulsive disorder
Robert M Roth1, Denise Milovan, Jacinthe Baribeau
1Neuropsychology Program, Department of Psychiatry, Dartmouth Medical School/DHMC, Lebanon, New Hampshire, USA. Robert.M.Roth@Dartmouth.edu
Summary
Late onset obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is linked to poorer executive function and attention compared to early onset. These differences suggest distinct neurobiological underpinnings for early and late-onset OCD.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Cognitive Psychology
Background:
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) shows relationships between age of onset and various clinical factors.
- Understanding differences in neuropsychological functioning based on OCD onset is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate neuropsychological differences between early and late-onset obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
- To explore potential differing neurobiological mechanisms underlying distinct OCD onset types.
Main Methods:
- Comparison of neuropsychological functioning in patients with early-onset OCD (N=21) and late-onset OCD (N=17).
- Assessment of executive function, auditory attention, and visual memory.
Main Results:
- The late-onset OCD group performed significantly worse on executive function and auditory attention measures compared to the early-onset group.
- Late-onset OCD was associated with poorer visual memory when compared to healthy controls.
Conclusions:
- Early and late-onset OCD may stem from partially different neurobiological pathways.
- Neuropsychological deficits vary depending on the age of OCD onset, indicating distinct clinical profiles.