Abstract
Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is a prevalent psychiatric disorder characterized by obsessions and compulsions. Studies investigating symptomatology and cognitive deficits in OCD frequently implicate the striatum. The aim of this study was to explore striatum-mediated cognitive deficits in patients with OCD as they complete a stimulus-response learning task previously shown to differentially rely on the dorsal (DS) and ventral striatum (VS). We hypothesized that patients with OCD will show both impaired decision-making and learning, coupled with reduced task-relevant activity in DS and VS, respectively, compared to healthy controls. We found that patients with OCD (n = 14) exhibited decision-making deficits and learned associations slower compared to healthy age-matched controls (n = 16). Along with these behavioral deficits, OCD patients had reduced task-relevant activity in DS and VS, compared to controls. This study reveals that responses in DS and VS are altered in OCD, and sheds light on the cognitive deficits and symptoms experienced by patients with OCD.
Highlights
Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is a psychiatric illness prevalent in 1%–2% of adults and is described by the National Institute of Mental Health as typically chronic with a gradual onset [1, 2]
Learning is examined with changes in accuracy across the learning blocks with more errors early on and diminishing as participants use the feedback provided to update their responses. Using this stimulus-response association task coupled with fMRI, we investigated DS and ventral striatum (VS)-mediated cognitive functions in OCD
There were no significant differences between OCD and control participants
Summary
OCD is characterized by two major symptoms: obsessions and compulsions [1, 2]. The former are defined as disturbing and intrusive thoughts, urges, or impulses, and the latter as recurring behaviors or mental acts that patients feel driven to perform [1]. Compulsions are performed providing temporary anxiety reduction until the intrusive, obsessive thoughts occur again, beginning the cycle anew [1, 2]. Patients with OCD spend substantial amounts of time preoccupied with obsessions and performing compulsions, interfering with employment, goals, and relationships [5]. The neural bases of obsessions and compulsions are not fully elucidated
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