Original Research Article
Year: 2018 | Month: January | Volume: 5 | Issue: 1 | Pages: 1-8
Performance of OCD Patients on WCST in Context of Comorbid Depression
Vinay Kumar Srivastava1, Himani2
1Professor, Department of Psychiatry, K. D. Medical College Hospital & Research Center, Mathura
2Assistant Professor, Department of Microbiology, K. D. Medical College Hospital & Research Center, Mathura
Corresponding Author: Himani
ABSTRACT
Introduction: Over the years it has been observed that disturbances in cognitive functions including attention, executive functions, visuospatial functions, verbal and non-verbal memory, in OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder) patients are mediated by co morbid neuropsychiatric conditions. It has been observed that co morbid depression in OCD patients is associated with executive function deficits. Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) is one of the most widely used tests to assess the executive function deficits.
Methods: 160 patients fulfilling the DSM-IV criteria for OCD & depression were selected and categorized in 2 sample groups namely OCD with depression(OCDD, n=80) & OCD without depression(OCWD, n=80). Yale Brown Obsessive Scale (Y-BOCS) scale was used for assessment of OCD & Hamilton rating scale of depression (HAM-D) was used for further grading the severity of depression into mild, moderate & severe. The executive function deficits in patients of the three categories of depression with OCD were tested with WCST & intergroup comparisons were made.
Results: Both the OCDD & OCWD groups were matched for age, gender, marital status, educational qualification, age of onset of illness & duration of illness. The overall mean age of the patients presenting to the OPD was 32.63 years. The patients in groups OCD with moderate & severe depression completed less categories & committed more perseverative errors as compared to patients in groups OCD without depression & OCD with mild depression.
Conclusion: The observations of this study suggest that patients with OCD have impairment in executive functions which are further worsened by the presence of comorbid depression. Assessment of neurocognitive functions of patients with OCD should always include assessment of comorbid depression which will help in providing a patient tailored treatment.
Key words: Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST), Comorbid depression.
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