Abstract
Background: The inconsistency of previous reports examining cognitive function in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) suggests its heterogeneity. In this study, we examined the effect of illness duration on cognitive function in OCD. Methods: We examined the cognitive function of 32 OCD patients and 16 healthy volunteers by neuropsychological tests and functional magnetic resonance imaging while they performed the Stroop and N-back tasks to assess attention and nonverbal memory. The patients were divided into two groups by illness duration: a short-term group (n=17, 5.5±3.1 years) and a long-term group (n=15, 20.3±6.1 years). Statistical analysis was performed to determine the differences between these two groups and the normal control group (n=16). Results: The long-term group showed attention deficit and nonverbal memory dysfunction on the neuropsychological tests. In contrast, on functional magnetic resonance imaging, the short-term group showed weaker activation of the right caudate during the Stroop task and stronger activation of the right dorso-lateral prefrontal cortex during the N-back task than the long-term and normal control groups. Conclusions: The results suggested that abnormal brain activation occurs in the early phase of OCD and that the long-term persistence of OCD might involve a decline in cognitive function.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 814-823 |
Number of pages | 10 |
Journal | Depression and Anxiety |
Volume | 26 |
Issue number | 9 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Sep 2009 |
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Clinical Psychology
- Psychiatry and Mental health