Does the SCL 90-R obsessive-compulsive dimension identify cognitive impairments?

Area of Science:

• Neuropsychology
• Oncology
• Psychiatry

Background:

• Brain tumors significantly impact cognitive function and emotional well-being.
• Assessing psychological distress is crucial for managing patients with brain tumors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the relationship between the Symptom Checklist 90-R Obsessive-Compulsive subscale and cognitive performance in brain tumor patients.
• To explore the construct validity of the Obsessive-Compulsive subscale in this population.

Main Methods:

• Prospective study involving 19 adults with malignant brain tumors.
• Neuropsychological assessment included the Mattis Dementia Rating Scale, California Verbal Learning Test, and Trail Making Test B.
• Symptom Checklist 90-R, Mood Assessment Scale, Beck Anxiety Inventory, and Chronic Illness Problem Inventory were administered.

Main Results:

• The Obsessive-Compulsive subscale showed no significant correlation with objective cognitive measures (attention, verbal memory) or age.
• A strong association was found with depression (r = .81) and anxiety (r = .66) symptoms.
• Multivariate analyses revealed depression accounted for 66% of the variance in Obsessive-Compulsive scores, with anxiety contributing an additional 6%.

Conclusions:

• The Symptom Checklist 90-R Obsessive-Compulsive subscale is not a valid measure of cognitive function in brain tumor patients.
• It is best interpreted as an indicator of generalized emotional distress and somatic effects related to brain injury.
• Findings highlight the importance of assessing emotional well-being alongside cognitive function in neuro-oncology.