Neurocognitive impairment does not predict treatment outcome in obsessive-compulsive disorder
Abstract
There is conflicting evidence pertaining to whether or not neurocognitive task performance at baseline predicts treatment response in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). In the present study, we administered a set of executive neurocognitive tests with a putative sensitivity for treatment outcome to a sample of 138 OCD patients. Additionally, subjective neurocognitive dysfunction was determined via a questionnaire. All patients participated in a cognitive-behavioural treatment program (CBT). Results showed that responders (n = 73) did not differ from non-responders (n = 65) on any of the parameters except for decreased performance on the delayed alternation test (p < .1, effect size: .61). A subsidiary analysis revealed that slowing on the Trail-Making Test A and an enhanced rate of perserveration errors on the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test predicted poor outcome for the treatment of compulsions. It is concluded that neurocognitive impairment does not represent a reliable early warning sign for non-response to CBT.
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There is limited research on whether cognitive flexibility predicts psychotherapy outcomes for mental disorders, and the available findings are mixed.
“Despite these findings associating CF and mental distress, there is limited research on whether CF predicts psychotherapy outcomes for mental disorders, and the few findings that are available have been mixed (Mohlman & Gorman, 2005; Moritz et al., 2005; D’Alcante et al., 2012).”
From Does cognitive flexibility predict treatment gains in Internet-delivered psychological treatment of social anxiety disorder, depression, or tinnitus? (2016) · cites this paper as Moritz et al., 2005
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- Authors
- Moritz, S., Kloss, M., Jacobsen, D., Fricke, S., Cuttler, C., Brassen, S., & Hand, I.
- Affiliations
- University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (DE)
- Corresponding author
- Moritz, Steffen
- Venue
- Behaviour Research and Therapy
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2005-06
- Volume
- 43
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 811-819
- ISSN
- 0005-7967 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2076922272
- Cited by
- 33
- References
- 29
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 3 · 2022: 1 · 2020: 2 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 1 · 2014: 1 · 2013: 3 · 2012: 3
- FWCI
- 1.61
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Behaviour Research and Therapy (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Disorders
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychoanalysis and Psychopathology Research
- Keywords
- obsessive-compulsive disorder, neurocognitive impairment, treatment outcome prediction, cognitive behavioral therapy, executive function, Trail Making Test, Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, perseveration
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Cognition Disorders, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Neuropsychological Tests, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Prognosis, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Treatment Outcome
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