Impulsivity in obsessive-compulsive disorder: comparisons with other anxiety disorders and within tic-related subgroups

Abstract

This study investigated the relationship between impulsivity and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS) was used to examine (i) levels of impulsivity in individuals with OCD, panic disorder, and social phobia, as well as in nonclinical controls, and (ii) the relationship between tics and impulsivity in patients with OCD. Patients in all anxiety disorder groups reported higher levels of impulsiveness than controls, with no differences among clinical groups. OCD patients with tics reported higher levels of impulsiveness than those without tics, primarily due to elevations on the cognitive impulsiveness subscale—a finding that was related to increased severity of obsessions in the tic group. These findings do not support a clear relationship between impulsivity and OCD, but point to possible confusion between state versus trait impulsivity in the OCD literature, as well as threats to interpretability posed by overlapping criteria for symptoms and traits.