Soft Neurological Signs and Cognitive Function in Obsessive-compulsive Disorder Patients

OBJECTIVE: Modern research on obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) indicates that the primary cause of OCD, which was earlier explained only on basis of psychoanalytical theories, is biological. Our study attempts to investigate the neurobiological signs in form of soft neurological signs and cognitive function in OCD. METHODS: A cross sectional study was conducted at psychiatric facility of Seth G.S. Medical College and KEM Hospital. MATERIALS AND METHOD: 50 OCD patients and age- and education-matched controls were selected for the study. Established instruments were used to assess the neurological soft signs (NSS) and the cognitive deficits. RESULTS: OCD patients had significant more NSS in tests for motor coordination, sensory integration, complex motor tasks, hard signs, and right/left and spatial orientation. Cognitive deficits in the domains of visuospatial ability, executive function, attention, and working memory were significantly more in OCD patients compared to controls. CONCLUSION: Our study highlights the role of biological factors in form of soft neurological signs and cognitive dysfunction in the development of the OCD.