title: Neuropsychological functioning in obsessive-compulsive disorder: are executive functions the key deficit?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Although several studies have examined neuropsychological functions in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), findings are not conclusive, predominantly due to small samples and assessment of limited domains. We aim to map the neuropsychological profile of OCD in a large sample with a comprehensive battery of tests.
  
  
  METHODS
  Neuropsychological functions were tested in 150 subjects with DSM-IV OCD and 205 healthy control subjects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Subjects with OCD performed significantly worse than healthy control subjects on Colour Trails 1 time, Tower of Hanoi 3-disk time, Wisconsin Card Sorting Test categories completed, Iowa Gambling Task, Complex Figure Test immediate and delayed recall (p<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Subjects with OCD evince deficits in scanning, planning time, concept formation, decision making and encoding of non-verbal memory after controlling for the effects of age, gender and education. The profile is suggestive of a predominantly executive dysfunction, with difficulties in strategizing and organizing stimuli and cognitive resources for maximum efficiency. The findings implicate dorsolateral prefrontal, superior medial prefrontal and anterior cingulate cortices, suggesting that OCD might not be a purely orbitofronto-striatal disorder as previously conceptualized.
authors: Neuropsychology Unit, Department of Clinical Psychology, National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore, India. dr.himanikashyap@gmail.com
authors: Himani
authors: H
authors: Kashyap
authors: J Keshav
authors: JK
authors: Kumar
authors: Thennarasu
authors: T
authors: Kandavel
authors: Y C Janardhan
authors: YC
authors: Reddy
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003210:Concept Formation; D003657:Decision Making; D056344:Executive Function; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D009771:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Q000523:psychology*