The Cognitive Profile of Persons with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder with and without Autism Spectrum Disorder

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychiatry
• Cognitive Psychology

Background:

• Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) frequently co-occurs with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD).
• The cognitive profile of ASD, including "mindblindness," may influence the presentation of OCD symptoms.
• It remains unclear if obsessional symptoms in ASD are genuinely comorbid OCD or stem from ASD-related mechanisms.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the extent of responsibility interpretation in individuals with OCD compared to those with both ASD and OCD.
• To explore shared cognitive elements, such as responsibility interpretation and fear of harm, between OCD with and without ASD.

Main Methods:

• Employed the Responsibility Attitude Scale (RAS) and Responsibility Interpretations Questionnaire (RIQ).
• Administered assessments to three groups: OCD only (n=32), ASD with OCD (n=19), and non-clinical controls (n=23).

Main Results:

• Significant differences were observed in responsibility belief measures between the OCD-only group and the other two groups.
• Individuals with OCD alone showed distinct patterns in the interpretation of obsessions and assumption of responsibility compared to those with ASD and OCD.

Conclusions:

• OCD in individuals with ASD may not be as "genuine" as in individuals with OCD alone, from a cognitive-behavioral perspective.
• Responsibility interpretation differs significantly between OCD-only and ASD+OCD presentations.