Does neuropsychological performance impact on real-life functional achievements in obsessive-compulsive disorder? A preliminary study.
OBJECTIVE
We investigated the association between neuropsychological performance and real-life functioning in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). As a secondary aim, we investigated the association between neuropsychological performance and self-reported quality of life (QoL).


METHODS
We retrospectively selected 68 of 240 inpatients with OCD, who had been hospitalised for a 4-week psychiatric rehabilitation programme. We used clinical information recorded in the patients' electronic medical records. We considered the following variables: neuropsychological performance (verbal/visual memory, sustained attention, visual-constructive ability, and language fluency; in a sub-sample of 37 subjects, divided attention, working memory, and attentional shifting were also available); real-life functional achievements (social/vocational outcomes and independent living); subjectively reported QoL (WHOQOL-BREF); obsessive-compulsive (OC) symptoms severity (DY-BOCS).


RESULTS
We found significant associations between poorer neuropsychological performance and poorer achievements in independent living and vocational outcomes. Among the different neuropsychological tests, we found significant associations between language fluency/executive processing and independent living, and between divided attention, attentional shifting, working memory and vocational outcome. We found no significant associations between neuropsychological performance and subjectively reported QoL. OC symptoms severity was not associated with real-life functional achievements.


CONCLUSIONS
Our preliminary results suggest that poorer neuropsychological performance may be associated with impaired real-life functioning in subjects with OCD.
a Department of Clinical Neurosciences , Villa San Benedetto Menni, Hermanas Hospitalarias, FoRiPsi , Albese con Cassano, Como , Italy ;|b Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences , University of Maastricht , Maastricht , the Netherlands ;|c Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Leonard Miller School of Medicine , University of Miami , Miami , FL , USA.
Giampaolo
G
Perna
a Department of Clinical Neurosciences , Villa San Benedetto Menni, Hermanas Hospitalarias, FoRiPsi , Albese con Cassano, Como , Italy ;
Paolo
P
Cavedini
c Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Leonard Miller School of Medicine , University of Miami , Miami , FL , USA.
Philip D
PD
Harvey
a Department of Clinical Neurosciences , Villa San Benedetto Menni, Hermanas Hospitalarias, FoRiPsi , Albese con Cassano, Como , Italy ;
Nunzia Valentina
NV
Di Chiaro
a Department of Clinical Neurosciences , Villa San Benedetto Menni, Hermanas Hospitalarias, FoRiPsi , Albese con Cassano, Como , Italy ;
Silvia
S
Daccò
a Department of Clinical Neurosciences , Villa San Benedetto Menni, Hermanas Hospitalarias, FoRiPsi , Albese con Cassano, Como , Italy ;
Daniela
D
Caldirola
D000124:Achievement; D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology*; D004651:Employment; D056344:Executive Function / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008570:Memory, Short-Term / Q000502:physiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D009771:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
Obsessive-compulsive disorder; executive functioning; neuropsychology; quality of life; real-life functional achievements