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Vol. 12 No. 3 (2002): Psychiatry and Clinical Psychopharmacology

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Published: Mar 9, 2021
Keywords:
obsessive-compulsive personality traits; schizotypal personality; orbitofrontal dysfunction; prefrontal dysfunction; neuropsychological test

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Ayşe Ayçiçeği
Boston University, Department of Psychology, Visiting Scientist from Istanbul University Department of Psychology, USA
Wayne M. Dinn
Boston University, Department of Psychology, USA
Catherine L. Harris
Boston University, Department of Psychology, USA

NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL FUNCTION IN OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE PERSONALITY WITH SCHIZOTYPAL FEATURES

Main Article Content

Ayşe Ayçiçeği
Boston University, Department of Psychology, Visiting Scientist from Istanbul University Department of Psychology, USA
Wayne M. Dinn
Boston University, Department of Psychology, USA
Catherine L. Harris
Boston University, Department of Psychology, USA

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.


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