title: Is impaired response inhibition independent of symptom dimensions in obsessive-compulsive disorder? Evidence from ERPs.
abstract: Impaired response inhibition has been consistently reported in patients diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). This clinically heterogeneous disorder is characterized by several symptom dimensions that may have distinct, but partially overlapping, neural correlates. The present study examined whether alterations in response inhibition may be related to symptom severity and symptom dimensions. Event-related potentials (ERPs) were recorded in a group of 42 medication-free OCD patients as well as 42 healthy controls during a stop-signal task. Symptom dimension scores were obtained using the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale symptom checklist. OCD patients showed longer stop-signal reaction times (SSRT, p < 0.01) and larger stop-N2 amplitudes (p < 0.01) compared to healthy controls. Neither the longer SSRT nor the larger stop-N2 scores were significantly correlated with symptom severity or present or lifetime OCD symptoms in OCD patients. These results indicate that deficient response inhibition is a common occurrence in OCD patients that is independent of global symptom severity and symptom dimensions. These data support the notion that impaired response inhibition may be a general attribute of patients with OCD.
authors.affiliation: Medical Psychological Institute, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410011, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lei
authors.affiliation: 1] Medical Psychological Institute, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410011, P.R. China [2] National Technology Institute of Psychiatry, Key Laboratory of Psychiatry and Mental Health of Hunan Province, Central South University, Changsha 410011, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Xiongzhao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Medical Psychological Institute, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410011, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.affiliation: Medical Psychological Institute, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410011, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Jiaojiao
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.affiliation: Medical Psychological Institute, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410011, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Cheng
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: 1] Medical Psychological Institute, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410011, P.R. China [2] National Technology Institute of Psychiatry, Key Laboratory of Psychiatry and Mental Health of Hunan Province, Central South University, Changsha 410011, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Xiaocui
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Center for Studies of Psychological Application, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Mingtian
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhong
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology; D058256:Brain Waves / Q000502:physiology*; D003192:Compulsive Behavior / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009770:Obsessive Behavior / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D009771:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D055815:Young Adult