Comparison of Executive Function in Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Patients With Good Insight, Poor Insight and Healthy People

Abstract

Background: This research seeks to make a comparison between executive functions of the obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) patients, with poor and high insight levels and normal people. Materials and Methods: In this casual comparative study, 22 OCD patients with high insight level, 5 OCD patients with poor insight level (based on YBOCS’ 11th item score) and 23 normal subjects were selected using convenience sampling technique. The subjects were evaluated using two groups of clinical and neuropsychiatric instruments. The clinical instruments included Y-BOCS, BDI-II and GHQ-12. The executive functions were assessed using the Tower of London test, the Stroop and the Wisconsin Card Sorting tests. Results: The obtained results showed a significant difference between OCD patients and normal people in a number of executive functions. However, comparison between OCD patients with high and poor insight levels showed no significant difference in the executive functions variables. Conclusion: Executive functions (EF) may contribute to the psychopathology of OCD. Therefore examining EF can play an important role in assessment and treatment of OCD.