Association of obsessions and compulsions in schizophrenia with neurocognition and negative symptoms

J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2002 Fall;14(4):449-53. doi: 10.1176/jnp.14.4.449.

Abstract

It is unclear whether obsessions and compulsions in schizophrenia spectrum disorders are associated with a unique pattern of symptoms and deficits. Accordingly, the present study compared symptom levels and neurocognitive function of participants with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder with (n=11) and without (n=52) significant obsessive-compulsive symptoms. Analyses of variance revealed that the obsessive-compulsive group performed more poorly on measures of executive function and vigilance and had higher levels of negative and emotional discomfort symptoms. Unexpectedly, the obsessive-compulsive group also demonstrated superior performance on a measure of visual memory. The implications of these clinical correlates of obsessive-compulsive phenomena in schizophrenia spectrum disorders are discussed.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Cognition Disorders / diagnosis
  • Cognition Disorders / etiology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Neuropsychological Tests
  • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / complications*
  • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / diagnosis
  • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / psychology*
  • Psychotic Disorders / complications*
  • Psychotic Disorders / psychology*
  • Schizophrenia / complications*
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Surveys and Questionnaires