title: Memory and strategic processing in first-degree relatives of obsessive compulsive patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The same executive dysfunctions and alterations in neuroimaging tests (both functional and structural) have been found in obsessive-compulsive patients and their first-degree relatives. These neurobiological findings are considered to be intermediate markers of the disease. The aim of our study was to assess verbal and non-verbal memory in unaffected first-degree relatives, in order to determine whether these neuropsychological functions constitute a new cognitive marker for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
  
  
  METHODS
  Recall and use of organizational strategies in verbal and non-verbal memory tasks were measured in 25 obsessive-compulsive patients, 25 unaffected first-degree relatives and 25 healthy volunteers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  First-degree relatives and healthy volunteers did not show differences on most measures of verbal memory. However, during the recall and processing of non-verbal information, deficits were found in first-degree relatives and patients compared with healthy volunteers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The presence of the same deficits in the execution of non-verbal memory tasks in OCD patients and unaffected first-degree relatives suggests the influence of certain genetic and/or familial factors on this cognitive function in OCD and supports the hypothesis that deficits in non-verbal memory tasks could be considered as cognitive markers of the disorder.
authors.affiliation: OCD Clinical and Research Unit, Department of Psychiatry, Bellvitge University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain. csegalas@bellvitgehospital.cat
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Segalàs
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Alonso
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Real
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Garcia
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Miñambres
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Labad
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pertusa
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bueno
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jiménez-Murcia
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Menchón
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009771:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers