title: Speed and accuracy on tests of executive function in obsessive-compulsive disorder.
abstract: Slowness in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) has been attributed to intrusive thoughts or meticulousness. Recent research suggests that slowness in OCD may be particularly evident on tests of executive function subserved by frontostriatal circuitry. In the present study, the speed and accuracy of responding on neuropsychological tests of executive functions and psychomotor speed were investigated in 27 non-depressed, unmedicated adults with OCD and 27 healthy controls. The only group difference was that patients took significantly longer to copy a complex geometric design than controls. This finding was unrelated to residual depression or overall OCD symptom severity. Results suggest that slowness in OCD may be most apparent on executive tests requiring self-initiated organizational strategies, consistent with frontostriatal abnormality.
authors.affiliation: Neuropsychology and Neuroimaging Program, Dartmouth Medical School/DHMC, One Medical Center Drive, Lebanon, NH 03756-0001, USA. robert.m.roth@dartmouth.edu
authors.forename: Robert M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Roth
authors.forename: Jacinthe
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Baribeau
authors.forename: Denise L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Milovan
authors.forename: Kieron
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: O'Connor
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology; D003342:Corpus Striatum / Q000503:physiopathology; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D004193:Discrimination Learning / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000503:physiopathology; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009771:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011594:Psychometrics; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D012016:Reference Values; D013239:Stereotyped Behavior / Q000502:physiology