Comparison of executive functions in subclinical obsessive-compulsive disorder without depressive symptoms

The present study investigated three components of executive functions including inhibition, set shifting, and updating of working memory in OCD patients by controlling depressive symptoms. To this end, after screening students with Symptom Checklist-90 (SCL-90), those who received above cut-off scores in obsession subscale were selected to complete Maudsley Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory (MOCI) and 30 students who received above cut-off scores in MOCI were selected among them. These subjects’ scores in Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) were under 20. In addition, thirty students who did not show above cut-off scores in any of SCL-90 scales during the screening stage were selected and matched by demographical variables. Both groups completed executive functions tasks. Data analysis showed that there were significant differences between OCD group and healthy control group in Stroop variables (reaction time interference and error interference). Also, there were significant differences between two groups in Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (errors, categories, and reaction time) and number-digit test. Generally, patients with OCD showed poor performance in all instruments. OCD patients without depressive symptoms showed deficits in executive functions (inhibition set shifting and updating of working memory) and these deficits do not depend on depressive symptoms.