J Korean Neuropsychiatr Assoc.  2000 May;39(3):598-609.

A Neuropsychological Study of Frontal Lobe Function in Obsessive-compulsive Disorder

• Ahn KH
• Kim MS
• Kim YS
• Park EH
• Park SH
• Shin MS
• Lyoo IK
• Kwon JS

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
Non-verbal memory deficits, impairments in executive function and deficits in visuospartial functions have been repeatedly reported in subjects with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The present study aimed to evaluate the frontal lobe function using neuro-psychological test in subjects with OCD and normal control.
METHODS
A battery of neuropsychological tests (Wisconsin Card Sorting test, Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure test, Controlled Oral Word Association test, Trail Making test, Verbal Learning test) reflecting frontal lobe function was administrated to 32 OCD patients and 28 healthy comparison subjects. RESULT: There were no significant differences in age, years of education, or estimated IQ between the groups. Scores in category fluency, immediate recall and delayed recall of Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure test in OCD subjects were significantly lower than those of healthy comparison subjects (ANCOVA, F=15.07, df=58, p< .001; ANCOVA, F=6.33, df=57, p=0.015; ANCOVA, F=5.53, df=57, p=0.022, respectively).
CONCLUSION
OCD patients had selective deficits in task involving non-verbal memory and categorical word fluency relative to healthy comparisons.

Keyword

Obsessive-compulsive disorder; Frontal lobes; Neuropsychology; Non-verbal memory

MeSH Terms

Education
Executive Function
Frontal Lobe*
Humans
Memory
Memory Disorders
Memory, Short-Term
Neuropsychological Tests
Neuropsychology
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder*
Trail Making Test
Verbal Learning
Word Association Tests