Childhood neuropsychological deficits associated with adult obsessive-compulsive disorder.
BACKGROUND
Existing neuropsychological studies of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) are cross-sectional and do not provide evidence of whether deficits are trait-related (antecedent and independent of symptomatology) or state-related (a consequence, dependent on symptomatology).


OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether there are premorbid neuropsychological deficits associated with adult OCD.


METHODS
Longitudinal data were collected from participants of the Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Developmental study. Neuropsychological data collected at age 13 were linked with age 32 diagnosis of OCD.


RESULTS
The group who had OCD at age 32 differed significantly from the control group with no OCD on their performance at age 13 on neuropsychological tests of visuospatial, visuoconstructive and visuomotor skills, controlling for gender and socioeconomic status, but did not differ on tests of general IQ or verbal ability. Performance of the group with OCD on tests of executive functioning was mixed.


CONCLUSIONS
Individuals with OCD have premorbid impairment in visuospatial abilities and some forms of executive functioning, consistent with biological models of OCD.
Grisham
Jessica R
JR
School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia 2052. jgrisham@psy.unsw.edu.au
Anderson
Tracy M
TM
Poulton
Richie
R
Moffitt
Terrie E
TE
Andrews
Gavin
G
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D009771:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D013037:Spatial Behavior; D014796:Visual Perception