Can memory and executive functions in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder predict outcome of cognitive behavioural therapy?

Background: Most studies find that patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) have impaired memory and executive functions. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is the recommended psychotherapeutic treatment of patients with OCD. We hypothesized that impairments in memory and executive functions would predict poor outcome of CBT.

Are there reliable changes in memory and executive functions after cognitive behavioural therapy in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder?

Introduction: Patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) have impaired memory and executive functions, but it is unclear whether these functions improve after cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) of OCD symptoms. The primary aim of this study was to investigate whether memory and executive functions change after CBT in patients with OCD.

Methods: We assessed 39 patients with OCD before and after CBT with neuropsychological tests of memory and executive functions.

Memory and executive functions in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Objective: We investigated whether patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder have poorer memory and executive functions than healthy controls.

Background: The relatively inconsistent previous findings on this question reflect a lack of well-matched control groups, the inclusion of patients with comorbidity, and the use of noncomparable neuropsychological tests to assess memory and executive functions.

Methods: We used well-accepted neuropsychological tests of memory and executive functions to assess 42 patients who had obsessive-compulsive disorder without comorbidity, and 42 healthy controls.

Do cognitive functions in obsessive-compulsive disorder change after treatment? A systematic review and a double case report.

Background: Neuropsychological and neuroimaging studies have documented that patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) have cognitive difficulties dependent upon fronto-striatal circuits in the brain. It is, however, unclear whether the cognitive difficulties change after treatment. Answering this question could help establish whether cognitive difficulties in OCD are state dependent or more trait-like.