Neuropsychological function in obsessive-compulsive personality with schizotypal features

Abstract

Objective: We examined the neurocognitive profiles of 12 clinically referred obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) patients in Turkey. Numerous studies examining neuropsychological function among OCD patients document performance deficits on measures considered sensitive to orbitofrontal dysfunction. Method: We administered a neuropsychological test battery consisting of tasks considered sensitive to orbitofrontal dysfunction and tests of executive function. Results: Contrary to expectation, OCD subjects did not display performance deficits on orbitofrontal tasks. Unexpectedly, only 2 of 12 patients in Turkish sample presented with classical OCD. The remaining 10 subjects displayed obsessive-compulsive personality traits (e.g., striving for symmetry and order, perfectionism, and rigid adherence to rules), schizotypal personality features (OCPT/SP), and generalized anxiety. We excluded the two primary OCD subjects and conducted a separate analysis of the OCPT/SP group. They demonstrated performance deficits on measures of executive function relative to control subjects. Conclusion: Findings are consistent with the contention that obsessive-compulsive personality traits and schizotypal personality features are associated with performance deficits on tests of executive function, possibly reflecting dorsolateral- or mesial-prefrontal dysfunction. We suggest that obsessive-compulsive personality traits may develop as a compensatory response to working memory and executive function deficits.