The Comparison of Executive Functions in Patients with Obsessive- Compulsive Disorder and Normal Individuals

Introduction: In recent decades deficit in executive functions has been investigated as a one of the
etiological hypotheses in a wide range of anxiety disorders. The purpose of this study was comparing
executive functions in patients with obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) and matched healthy
individuals.
Method: In this cross–sectional study were evaluated 46 patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder
are compared with 46 healthy individual by means of convenient sampling. In this ex-post facto,
causal-comparative study, Stroop Color and Word Test, Emotional Stroop, Wisconsin card sorting test
(WCST) and continuous performance test (CPT) were used as the research tools. Data were analyzed
through Student’s t-test.
Results: Finding showed that reaction time significantly lower in OCD group. Furthermore, results
indicated statistically significant difference between two groups in Emotional Stroop test (P value and
results showed that correct response is more in healthy groups than patient). In continuous
performance test omission error in OCD more than healthy group but to groups was similar in
commission and reaction time. In WCST healthy group have better performance in preservation error
and correct response.
Conclusion: OCD could be considered as a dysfunction of executive functions. The results of this
study are discussed on deficits in ability of patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder in executive
functions such as attention and decision-making.