Visuospatial Abilities, Memory, and Executive Functioning in Trichotillomania and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Abstract

Few studies have compared neuropsychological functioning in trichotillomania (TTM) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). In OCD, most studies suggest abnormal visuospatial abilities, memory, and executive functioning. We compared 23 TTM, 21 OCD and 26 healthy control individuals on neuropsychological tasks assessing these abilities. Neither the TTM nor the OCD groups suffered from generalized neuropsychological deficits compared to the healthy control group. TTM participants showed increased perseveration on the Object Alternation Task suggesting difficulties with response flexibility. OCD participants showed impaired ability to learn from feedback on the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test. Other executive functions, as well as memory and visuospatial abilities were unimpaired in TTM and OCD. Our data suggest that TTM and OCD are characterized by different patterns of neuropsychological dysfunction.

This research was partly supported by a doctoral stipend from the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and a doctoral stipend from the University of Marburg, Germany, both awarded to Antje Bohne, by a grant from the Judah fund awarded to Michael A. Jenike and by a grant from the Obsessive Compulsive Foundation awarded to Cary R. Savage

Notes

This research was partly supported by a doctoral stipend from the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and a doctoral stipend from the University of Marburg, Germany, both awarded to Antje Bohne, by a grant from the Judah fund awarded to Michael A. Jenike and by a grant from the Obsessive Compulsive Foundation awarded to Cary R. Savage