No evidence for deficient set-shifting in obsessive-compulsive disorder

2011 ◽  
Vol 26 (S2) ◽  
pp. 153-153
Author(s):  
E. Fadda ◽  
S. Sottocorno ◽  
R. Martoni ◽  
E. Galimberti ◽  
L. Bellodi
Keyword(s):  
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder ◽  
Cognitive Flexibility ◽  
Analysis Of Covariance ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Set Shifting ◽  
Neurocognitive Deficits ◽  
Obsessive Compulsive ◽  
Compulsive Disorder ◽  
Information Sampling

IntroductionVarious neurocognitive deficits have been identified across several domains in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), including memory, response inhibition attentional processing and cognitive flexibility.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to evaluate Set Shifting in patients with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder compared with Healthy Controls (HC).Methods44 OCD patients, according to DSM-IV criteria (APA, 1994) and 32 healthy controls (HC) were recruited. Information Sampling Task (IST) selected from Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB) was administered to all participants to assess cognitive flexibility. The two IST versions were counterbalanced in the samples. Delta index has been calculated as the difference between the number of the boxes opened in the fixed condition and the number of boxes opened in the decrease condition.ResultsGroup differences in Delta IST were assessed within an analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) model including Groups (control vs. OCD) as between-subject factor and age as a covariate. Results show a no significant main effect for group on IST Delta index (p = 0.26). A significant effect of the covariates (age) on Delta IST(p = 0.027) was found.ConclusionResults suggests that cognitive flexibility, assessed by Information Sampling Task, was not impaired in OCD patients. Future research should evaluate this evidence, taking in account for OCD clinical subtypes.

Meta-analysis of neurocognitive deficits in unaffected relatives of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD): comparison with healthy controls and patients with OCD

2020 ◽  
Vol 50 (8) ◽  
pp. 1257-1266
Author(s):  
Emre Bora
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder ◽  
Cognitive Functions ◽  
Visual Memory ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Set Shifting ◽  
Neurocognitive Deficits ◽  
Obsessive Compulsive ◽  
Compulsive Disorder

AbstractBackgroundObsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) has been associated with cognitive deficits, particularly with executive functions. These findings support fronto-striatal dysfunction in OCD. However, it is not certain whether these findings are trait features of OCD. In recent years, a number of studies have investigated cognitive functions in unaffected relatives of OCD (OCDrel) but the findings of these studies are contradictory.MethodsA systematic review in Pubmed and Scopus databases was performed until 18 March 2019, to locate the studies comparing cognitive functions of OCDrel with healthy controls and OCD patients (OCDpt). A random-effects meta-analysis was conducted.ResultsCurrent meta-analysis included 16 studies including 527 OCDrel, 445 OCDpt and 639 healthy controls. Healthy controls overperformed OCDpt in all cognitive domains (d = 0.36–0.86). OCDrel underperformed healthy controls in inhibition (d = 0.58, CI = 0.29–0.86), planning (d = 0.45, CI = 0.28–0.63), decision-making (d = 0.58, CI = 0.19–0.98). OCDrel also had small-sized deficits in set-shifting (d = 0.37, CI = 0.04–0.69) and visual memory (d = 0.28, CI = 0.08–0.49). OCDpt underperformed OCDrel in visual memory (d = 0.45, CI = 0.22–0.67) and set-shifting (d = 0.23, CI = 0.04–0.42).ConclusionsCurrent findings suggest that abnormalities in inhibition, planning/problem solving and reward-based decision-making are shared features of OCDrel and OCDpt and might be trait markers related to vulnerability for developing OCD. Visual memory and set-shifting deficits might potentially be biomarkers of incipient illness or subthreshold OCD presentation among OCDrel. Further exploration of cognitive heterogeneity in OCDrel and investigating the effects of the subtypes of OCD in probands on cognitive impairment in OCDrel are needed.

scholarly journals Specific cognitive deficits in tests sensitive to frontal lobe dysfunction in obsessive–compulsive disorder

1996 ◽  
Vol 26 (6) ◽  
pp. 1261-1269 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. M. Veale ◽  
B. J. Sahakian ◽  
A. M. Owen ◽  
I. M. Marks
Keyword(s):  
Frontal Lobe ◽  
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder ◽  
Cognitive Deficits ◽  
Learning Task ◽  
Frontal Lobe Dysfunction ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Set Shifting ◽  
Obsessive Compulsive ◽  
Compulsive Disorder ◽  
Attentional System

SynopsisForty patients with obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) were compared to matched healthy controls on neuropsychological tests which are sensitive to frontal lobe dysfunction. On a computerized version of the Tower of London test of planning, the patients were no different from healthy controls in the accuracy of their solutions. However, when they made a mistake, they spent more time than the controls in generating alternative solutions or checking that the next move would be correct. The results suggest that OCD patients have a selective deficit in generating alternative strategies when they make a mistake. In a separate attentional set-shifting task, OCD patients were impaired in a simple discrimination learning task and showed a continuous cumulative increase in the number who failed at each stage of the task, including the crucial extra-dimensional set shifting stage. This suggests that OCD patients show deficits in both acquiring and maintaining cognitive sets.The cognitive deficits in OCD may be summarized as: (i) being easily distracted by other competing stimuli; (ii) excessive monitoring and checking of the response to ensure a mistake does not occur; and (iii) when a mistake does occur, being more rigid at setting aside the main goal and planning the necessary subgoals. Both studies support the evidence of fronto-striatal dysfunction in OCD and the results are discussed in terms of an impaired Supervisory Attentional System.

scholarly journals Poor insight in obsessive-compulsive disorder: examining the role of cognitive, metacognitive, and neuropsychological variables

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heather K. Hood
Keyword(s):  
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder ◽  
Cognitive Flexibility ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Magical Thinking ◽  
Obsessive Compulsive ◽  
Group Status ◽  
Neuropsychological Measures ◽  
Compulsive Disorder ◽  
Unique Predictor ◽  
Composite Scores

The purpose of this study was to examine the cognitive and neuropsychological constructs that are conceptually related to poor insight in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The relationship between dimensions of insight (Brown Assessment of Beliefs Scale; BABS) and cognitive (magical thinking, paranoia/suspiciousness), metacognitive (metacognition, decentering, cognitive flexibility), and neuroopsychological indices of cognitive flexiblity were examined. Participants with OCD (N = 80) referred for treatment at an outpatient anxiety disorders clinic completed a clinical interview, a brief battery of neuropsychological measures, and a computer-administered questionnaire package assessing the variables of interest. Lower metacognition (i.e., Beck Cognitive Insight Scale [BCIS], composite score) was significantly associated with poorer insight (BABS total; ρ = -.38), and Metacognitions Questionnaire-30 cognitive self-consciousness subscale was negatively correlated with insight regarding a psychiatric source for one’s symptoms (ρ = -.24). Stroop interference was the only neuropsychological variable associated with BABS total score (ρ = -.23), but was not a unique predictor of insight in a regression with BCIS composite scores predicting insight. Nearly all of the variance in insight was accounted for by BCIS composite scores (R = .43, R2 = .18), indicating that metacognition, but not cognitive flexibility, contributes most strongly to clinical insight. Finally, insight decreased when OCD symptoms were activated for both the good and poor insight groups, F(1,78) = 119.29, p < .001, partial η2 = .61, and did not significantly vary as a function of insight group status, F(1, 78) = 3.24, p = .08, partial η2 = .04. Implications, limitations, and directions for future research are discussed.

scholarly journals Reassurance-seeking behaviour, intolerance of uncertainty, and neurocognitive functioning in obsessive-compulsive disorder

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erin Orr
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder ◽  
Psychological Symptoms ◽  
Intolerance Of Uncertainty ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Obsessive Compulsive ◽  
Reassurance Seeking ◽  
Targeted Interventions ◽  
Compulsive Disorder

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a psychological condition involving excessive reassurance-seeking (ERS), or repeated questioning of others about something perceived as threatening; low cognitive confidence; and intolerance of uncertainty (IU; Cougle et al., 2012; Nedeljkovic et al., 2009; Parrish, 2009). Relationships between these symptoms and several domains of cognitive functioning were examined in the present study. Thirty-five OCD patients and 34 healthy controls completed a battery of psychological questionnaires and neurocognitive measures. Results indicated that OCD patients reported greater levels of ERS than healthy controls in three different situations. Furthermore, significant relationships were identified between: (1) decision-related ERS and decision-making impairment, (2) cognitive confidence and decision-related ERS, and (3) a particular form of IU, inhibitory IU, and decision-making impairment. These findings are important, as these psychological symptoms are associated with negative outcomes. The relationships identified provide an important foundation for future research and the development of targeted interventions for these symptoms.

scholarly journals Poor insight in obsessive-compulsive disorder: examining the role of cognitive, metacognitive, and neuropsychological variables

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heather K. Hood
Keyword(s):  
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder ◽  
Cognitive Flexibility ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Magical Thinking ◽  
Obsessive Compulsive ◽  
Group Status ◽  
Neuropsychological Measures ◽  
Compulsive Disorder ◽  
Unique Predictor ◽  
Composite Scores

The purpose of this study was to examine the cognitive and neuropsychological constructs that are conceptually related to poor insight in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The relationship between dimensions of insight (Brown Assessment of Beliefs Scale; BABS) and cognitive (magical thinking, paranoia/suspiciousness), metacognitive (metacognition, decentering, cognitive flexibility), and neuroopsychological indices of cognitive flexiblity were examined. Participants with OCD (N = 80) referred for treatment at an outpatient anxiety disorders clinic completed a clinical interview, a brief battery of neuropsychological measures, and a computer-administered questionnaire package assessing the variables of interest. Lower metacognition (i.e., Beck Cognitive Insight Scale [BCIS], composite score) was significantly associated with poorer insight (BABS total; ρ = -.38), and Metacognitions Questionnaire-30 cognitive self-consciousness subscale was negatively correlated with insight regarding a psychiatric source for one’s symptoms (ρ = -.24). Stroop interference was the only neuropsychological variable associated with BABS total score (ρ = -.23), but was not a unique predictor of insight in a regression with BCIS composite scores predicting insight. Nearly all of the variance in insight was accounted for by BCIS composite scores (R = .43, R2 = .18), indicating that metacognition, but not cognitive flexibility, contributes most strongly to clinical insight. Finally, insight decreased when OCD symptoms were activated for both the good and poor insight groups, F(1,78) = 119.29, p < .001, partial η2 = .61, and did not significantly vary as a function of insight group status, F(1, 78) = 3.24, p = .08, partial η2 = .04. Implications, limitations, and directions for future research are discussed.

scholarly journals Reassurance-seeking behaviour, intolerance of uncertainty, and neurocognitive functioning in obsessive-compulsive disorder

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erin Orr
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder ◽  
Psychological Symptoms ◽  
Intolerance Of Uncertainty ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Obsessive Compulsive ◽  
Reassurance Seeking ◽  
Targeted Interventions ◽  
Compulsive Disorder

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a psychological condition involving excessive reassurance-seeking (ERS), or repeated questioning of others about something perceived as threatening; low cognitive confidence; and intolerance of uncertainty (IU; Cougle et al., 2012; Nedeljkovic et al., 2009; Parrish, 2009). Relationships between these symptoms and several domains of cognitive functioning were examined in the present study. Thirty-five OCD patients and 34 healthy controls completed a battery of psychological questionnaires and neurocognitive measures. Results indicated that OCD patients reported greater levels of ERS than healthy controls in three different situations. Furthermore, significant relationships were identified between: (1) decision-related ERS and decision-making impairment, (2) cognitive confidence and decision-related ERS, and (3) a particular form of IU, inhibitory IU, and decision-making impairment. These findings are important, as these psychological symptoms are associated with negative outcomes. The relationships identified provide an important foundation for future research and the development of targeted interventions for these symptoms.

Additive and Alternative Approaches to Treating Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jordana Muroff ◽  
Abigail Ross ◽  
Joseph Rothfarb
Keyword(s):  
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder ◽  
Behavioral Therapy ◽  
Alternative Methods ◽  
Herbal Remedies ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Obsessive Compulsive ◽  
Compulsive Disorder ◽  
Specific Alternative ◽  
Alternative Approaches ◽  
Complementary And Alternative

While cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and pharmacotherapy are “gold standard” treatments for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), complementary and alternative treatments are frequently sought for anxiety disorders. The purpose of this chapter is to review and discuss the available research on the application, efficacy and effectiveness of complementary and alternative methods for treating OCD. The first section identifies and reviews studies focusing on specific alternative and complementary treatments that are independent from, or work in conjunction with CBT, such as yoga, herbal remedies, motivational strategies, and bibliotherapy. The second section discusses alternative and complementary methods of more mainstream CBT and related techniques, with a particular focus on technology-supported approaches. The chapter concludes with a discussion of the methodological issues in the existing research on complementary and alternative methods in the treatment of OCD, questions for future research, and implications for providers.

The inner world of overactive monitoring: neural markers of interoception in obsessive–compulsive disorder

2017 ◽  
Vol 47 (11) ◽  
pp. 1957-1970 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Yoris ◽  
A. M. García ◽  
L. Traiber ◽  
H. Santamaría-García ◽  
M. Martorell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Panic Disorder ◽  
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder ◽  
Evoked Potential ◽  
Cognitive Profile ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Obsessive Compulsive ◽  
Compulsive Disorder ◽  
Inner World ◽  
External Stimuli ◽  
Internal Body

BackgroundObsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) patients typically overmonitor their own behavior, as shown by symptoms of excessive doubt and checking. Although this is well established for the patients’ relationship with external stimuli in the environment, no study has explored their monitoring of internal body signals, a process known to be affected in anxiety-related syndromes. Here, we explored this issue through a cardiac interoception task that measures sensing of heartbeats. Our aim was to explore key behavioral and electrophysiological aspects of internal-cue monitoring in OCD, while examining their potential distinctiveness in this condition.MethodWe administered a heartbeat detection (HBD) task (with related interoceptive confidence and awareness measures) to three matched groups (OCD patients, panic disorder patients, healthy controls) and recorded ongoing modulations of two task-relevant electrophysiological markers: the heart evoked potential (HEP) and the motor potential (MP).ResultsBehaviorally, OCD patients outperformed controls and panic patients in the HBD task. Moreover, they exhibited greater amplitude modulation of both the HEP and the MP during cardiac interoception. However, they evinced poorer confidence and awareness of their interoceptive skills.ConclusionsConvergent behavioral and electrophysiological data showed that overactive monitoring in OCD extends to the sensing of internal bodily signals. Moreover, this pattern discriminated OCD from panic patients, suggesting a condition-distinctive alteration. Our results highlight the potential of exploring interoceptive processes in the OCD spectrum to better characterize the population's cognitive profile. Finally, these findings may lay new bridges between somatic theories of emotion and cognitive models of OCD.

EEG-source estimates and vigilance regulation in obsessive compulsive disorder in comparison to healthy controls

2011 ◽  
Vol 26 (S2) ◽  
pp. 977-977 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Olbrich ◽  
S. Olbrich ◽  
I. Jahn ◽  
U. Hegerl ◽  
K. Stengler
Keyword(s):  
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder ◽  
Sleep Disturbances ◽  
Imaging Techniques ◽  
Sleep Onset ◽  
Biological Marker ◽  
Multiple Comparison ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Obsessive Compulsive ◽  
Compulsive Disorder ◽  
Eeg Power

Neurophysiological hyperactivation of cortical and subcortical brain areas has been reported in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) using functional imaging techniques and electroencephalography (EEG). Also sleep disturbances and delayed sleep phases have been associated with OCD symptomatology. However, vigilance regulation in OCD during the transition phase from wakefulness to sleep onset remains unclear. Therefore the aim of this study was to analyze EEG-source estimates and EEG vigilance regulation in OCD patients in comparison to healthy controls.A 15 minute resting EEG was recorded in 30 unmedicated OCD patients and 30 healthy, age and gender matched controls. EEG power source estimates of the whole time series were computed by exact Low Resolution Brain Electromagnetic Tomography (eLORETA). Each consecutive one second EEG-segment was classified into one out of seven EEG-vigilance stages (0, A1, A2, A3, B1, B2/3, C) using Vigilance Algorithm Leipzig (VIGALL). The eLORETA analysis (log of F-ratios, p < 0.05, corrected for multiple comparison) revealed significantly increased delta power in the right superior frontal gyrus for OCD patients in comparison to healthy controls. Vigilance analysis yielded significantly increased amounts of high vigilance stage A2 (Mann-Whitney test, p < 0.001, corrected for multiple comparison) for OCD patients.This study repeated findings of altered EEG-power in frontal areas in OCD patients. Alterations of EEG-vigilance regulation were found with increased amounts of high vigilance stage A2. This is in line with a hypothesis of cortical hyperactivation in OCD. The value of EEG-vigilance as a possible biological marker for e.g. treatment response should be focus of further studies.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document