Neuropsychological disposition and its impact on the executive functions and cognitive style in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder

BACKGROUND: Recent brain imaging and electrophysiological studies have consistently shown dysfunction of the fronto-striatal thalamic pathways in patients with obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD). AIM: To study the relationship of neuropsychological disposition with the executive functions and cognitive style in patients with OCD. METHODS: Twenty OCD patients (14 males, 6 females) and 20 normal control subjects, matched for all relevant variables including age, sex and education, were studied. Neuropsychological disposition was assessed on the Adult Neuropsychological Questionnaire (ANQ), the executive functions were assessed through Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST), and the cognitive style was assessed by employing the Embedded Figure Test (EFT). RESULTS: Subcortical–cerebellar–spinal domain of ANQ was found to be associated with cognitive style and executive functions. CONCLUSION: The impairment of executive functions and poor activation of specific neurological circuitry in OCD patients affirms the neurobiological basis of the disorder.