The comparison of selective attention and working memory in people suffering from obsessive-compulsive disorder and depression with normal individuals; a neuropsychology perspective

The comparison of cognitive components of anxiety- and mood disorders with those of normative psychological values is considered a new approach by which findings may contribute to more optimized treatment. The aim of the current study was to compare the selective attention and working memory capacity of depressed and obsessive-compulsive patients with that of normal subjects. In this descriptive، causal comparative study we used the screening method to enroll 820 female students. Using the Maudsley Obsessive Compulsive Questionnaire and Beck Depression Inventory، students with depression or obsessive-compulsive who acquired an average score of 30-21 points higher than the cut-off score، were selected. Among the eligible patients، 27 were randomly selected from each group. The 27 normal students who were enrolled in the screening program، did not show any problem. Cognitive components of the Stroop color-word test and working memory were isolated and results were compared between groups. Data were analyzed using the one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). According to our data، the three groups، showed no significantly difference with respect to selective attention. However، working memory was shown to be significantly different across groups. Inasmuch as depressed individuals in all subscales and the working memory test measures showed a weaker performance than normal individuals. working memory impairment appears to be one of the most encountered problems amongst depressed patients. This deficiency is influenced by factors such as increasing task complexity، limited memory capacity، reduced motivation، psycho-motor retardation، which are typically considered as limiting factors in cognitive functioning of depressed people.