Set shifting and visuospatial organization deficits in body dysmorphic disorder

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychiatry
• Cognitive Psychology

Background:

• Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) involves preoccupation with perceived physical flaws.
• BDD symptoms suggest potential neurocognitive deficits in set-shifting and visuospatial skills.
• These deficits are implicated in related disorders but understudied in BDD.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate neurocognitive differences in set-shifting and visuospatial functions between individuals with BDD and healthy controls.
• To explore the role of these deficits as potential endophenotypes in BDD.

Main Methods:

• Neuropsychological assessments were administered to 20 BDD participants and 20 healthy controls.
• The Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery Intra-Extra Dimensional Set Shift (IED) task measured set-shifting.
• The Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure Test (ROCF) assessed visuospatial organization and memory.

Main Results:

• BDD participants demonstrated significant deficits in set-shifting compared to healthy controls on the IED task.
• BDD participants showed impaired visuospatial organization on the ROCF but not visuospatial memory.
• These findings remained consistent regardless of depression severity.

Conclusions:

• Neurocognitive deficits in set-shifting and visuospatial organization are present in BDD.
• These deficits may serve as endophenotype markers for BDD's clinical features, such as delusionality.
• Understanding these neuropsychological differences can inform BDD treatment strategies and clarify its relationship with similar disorders.