Abstract
BackgroundExecutive function (EF) domain deficits which most reported include in particular set shifting and inhibition, which are considered main deficits in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). So, this research aimed to assess EF in patients with a primary diagnosis of OCD in comparison to a healthy control group; in order to understand the impaction of this disorder on the patient’s neuropsychological status.ResultsThere was no significant difference between OCD patients and controls regarding demographic characteristics. Average duration of illness in OCD group was 3.97 ± 5.08 years. Forty patients (60.6%) had OCD medication prior to the study. Depression was the most prevalent comorbidity among OCD group (36.4%) then anxiety (12.1%) and social anxiety (3%). Regarding WCST indices, a significant difference (P < 0.05) was found between both groups in total number of correct answers, total number of errors, mean of errors, total number of perseverative errors, mean of perseverative errors, total number of non-perseverative errors, mean of non-perseverative errors, and conceptual level responses without significant difference (P ≥ 0.05) in the remaining indices. In ToL indices, there was highly significant difference (P < 0.001) between both groups regarding total time, but not regarding total moves (P ≥ 0.05). The defect in EF was positively correlated to the severity of symptoms of OCD. There was no significant difference between patients who had been receiving medical treatment and those who had not, also between patients who had comorbidities accompanying OCD and those who had not regarding EF as evident by both WCST measured parameters and TOL parameters.ConclusionsOCD patients appear to have EF deficits in the fields of set-shifting, inhibitory control, working memory, and planning ability.
Highlights
Executive function (EF) domain deficits which most reported include in particular set shifting and inhibition, which are considered main deficits in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
Demographic and clinical caractristics A total of 101 participants were included in the current study and divided into 66 OCD patients and 35 healthy controls with no statistically significant difference (P ≥ 0.05) between them regarding demographic characteristics; ensuring homogeneity of both groups
In consistent with Fournet et al who revealed an impairment in EF in the treatment-naïve and relapsed OCD groups, relative to the Healthy control group (HCG) with no significant difference in EF between the two groups of patients [4]
Summary
Executive function (EF) domain deficits which most reported include in particular set shifting and inhibition, which are considered main deficits in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Executive function (EF) is typically considered to comprise a broad category of “higher order” or “supervisory,” cognitive skills whose role is to control and coordinate other more basic cognitive functions like language, memory, and visuospatial ability. In this consideration, EF is “general purpose control mechanisms that modulate the operation of various cognitive sub-processes and thereby regulate the dynamics of human cognition.”. Consequences of executive deficits may include increased interpersonal conflict, decreased academic achievement, and risk-taking behavior [3]
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