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Executive Functioning and Clinical Variables in Patients with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Inmaculada Concepción Martínez-Esparza1, Pablo J Olivares-Olivares1, Ángel Rosa-Alcázar2
1Department of Personality, Assessment & Psychological Treatment, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain.
Brain Sciences
|March 6, 2021
Summary
Patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) show deficits in cognitive flexibility, inhibition, and working memory compared to controls. These executive function impairments may be linked to OCD severity and comorbid conditions.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychology
Background:
- Executive functions, including cognitive flexibility, response inhibition, and working memory, are crucial for behavioral control.
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is characterized by impairments in these executive functions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate executive function differences between individuals with OCD and healthy controls.
- To explore the influence of symptom severity, comorbidities, and treatment on these cognitive functions.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 62 participants (32 with OCD, 32 controls) aged 17-56 years underwent computerized cognitive tests.
- Cognitive flexibility, inhibition, and visuospatial/verbal working memory were assessed.
- Symptom severity, anxiety, depression, and obsessive beliefs were evaluated.
Main Results:
- The OCD group exhibited poorer performance in cognitive flexibility, inhibition, and visuospatial working memory compared to controls.
- Anxiety, obsessive beliefs, and comorbidity negatively impacted inhibition and working memory.
- Pharmacotherapy and OCD symptom severity affected verbal working memory.
Conclusions:
- Deficits in cognitive flexibility, inhibition, and visuospatial working memory may represent endophenotypes of OCD.
- OCD symptom severity, comorbidities, anxiety, and obsessive beliefs significantly influence cognitive performance.
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