A transdiagnostic perspective of constructs underlying obsessive-compulsive and related disorders: An international Delphi consensus study.

BACKGROUND: The Research Domain Criteria seeks to bridge knowledge from neuroscience with clinical practice by promoting research into valid neurocognitive phenotypes and dimensions, irrespective of symptoms and diagnoses as currently conceptualized. While the Research Domain Criteria offers a vision of future research and practice, its 39 functional constructs need refinement to better target new phenotyping efforts. This study aimed to determine which Research Domain Criteria constructs are most relevant to understanding obsessive-compulsive and related disorders, based on a consensus between experts in the field of obsessive-compulsive and related disorders. METHODS: Based on a modified Delphi method, 46 experts were recruited from Australia, Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas. Over three rounds, experts had the opportunity to review their opinion in light of feedback from the previous round, which included how their response compared to other experts and a summary of comments given. RESULTS: Thirty-four experts completed round one, of whom 28 (82%) completed round two and 24 (71%) completed round three. At the final round, four constructs were endorsed by ⩾75% of experts as 'primary constructs' and therefore central to understanding obsessive-compulsive and related disorders. Of these constructs, one came from the Positive Valence System (Habit), two from the Cognitive Control System (Response Selection/Inhibition and Performance Monitoring) and the final construct was an additional item suggested by experts (Compulsivity). CONCLUSION: This study identified four Research Domain Criteria constructs that, according to experts, cut across different obsessive-compulsive and related disorders. These constructs represent key areas for future investigation, and may have potential implications for clinical practice in terms of diagnostic processes and therapeutic management of obsessive-compulsive and related disorders.

A comparison of schemas, schema modes and childhood traumas in obsessive-compulsive disorder, chronic pain disorder and eating disorders.

BACKGROUND: In this study, we investigated early maladaptive schemas (EMS), schema modes and childhood traumas in patients suffering from obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in contrast to patients with other Axis I disorders. Based on cognitive theories on OCD, our main research question was whether schemas belonging to the domain of 'impaired autonomy and performance' are more prevalent in OCD than in both eating disorders (ED) and chronic pain disorder (CPD). SAMPLING AND METHODS: EMS, schema modes and traumatic childhood experiences were measured in 60 patients with OCD, 41 with ED, 40 with CPD and 142 healthy controls. To analyze differences between the groups, MANCOVAs were conducted followed by deviation contrasts. Depression level, age and gender were considered as possible covariates. RESULTS: OCD patients scored higher on 4 EMS, 2 of which belong to the domain 'impaired autonomy and performance'. ED patients had higher scores in the EMS 'emotional inhibition' and CPD patients on the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire subscale 'physical neglect'. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that there might be typical schema patterns associated with OCD and ED. We can also conclude that a higher prevalence of traumatic experiences does not necessarily coincide with more EMS and schema modes.

Relevance of orbitofrontal neurochemistry for the outcome of cognitive-behavioural therapy in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Since the advent of non-invasive methods such as proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((1)H-MRS), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) has been increasingly associated with an altered composition of neurometabolites and neurotransmitters in several brain areas. Particularly, Inositol has not only been implicated in OCD pathophysiology, but also shown effective in pilot studies in therapy-refractory OCD patients. However, the relevance of regional brain neurochemistry for therapy outcome has not yet been investigated. Whereas numerous neuroimaging findings support a dysfunction of the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) in OCD, MR-spectroscopic investigations of this region are missing. (1)H-MRS and psychometric measurements were obtained from twenty unmedicated patients with OCD, subsequently enrolled in a 3-month structured inpatient cognitive-behavioural therapy programme, and from eleven matched control subjects. Multiple regression of symptom score changes (Y-BOCS) on (myo-)inositol concentrations in three areas (right orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), right striatum and anterior cingulate cortex) was performed. The concentration of (myo-)inositol in the OFC only predicted the outcome of subsequent CBT regarding Y-BOCS score reduction (Spearman's r(s) = .81, P < 0.003, corrected). The (myo-)inositol concentration did not differ between OCD patients and healthy controls and did not change during therapy. We provide preliminary evidence for a neurochemical marker that may prove informative about a patient's future benefit from behaviour therapy. Inositol, a metabolite involved in cellular signal transduction and a spectroscopic marker of glial activity, predicted the response to CBT selectively in the OFC, adding to the evidence for OFC involvement in OCD and highlighting neurobiological underpinnings of psychotherapy.

Dream recall and dream content in obsessive-compulsive patients: is there a change during exposure treatment?

Very little is known about dreams in patients with obsessive compulsive disorder, especially regarding changes over the course of treatment with stimulus exposure and response prevention. By use of dream content analysis, 40 dreams of 9 obsessive compulsive (OC) inpatients were compared with 84 dreams of 10 matched OC outpatients and 63 dreams of 11 healthy control participants. Dream protocols of inpatients were collected at the beginning of treatment and after the first exposure exercises. Controls filled in dream protocols in respective intervals. Before treatment, dreams of patients showed significantly less positive contents than dreams of healthy controls. Under treatment with exposure, a significant reduction of OC themes was observed. The findings support the continuity hypothesis of dreaming by showing a link between day-time symptoms and OC symptoms in dreams. Contrary to expectations, however, exposure treatment does not intensify dreams.

Test-retest reliability of event-related functional MRI in a probabilistic reversal learning task.

Repeated functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies aim to detect changes in brain activity over time, e.g. to analyze the cerebral correlates of therapeutic interventions. This approach requires a high test-retest reliability of the measures used to rule out incidental findings. However, reliability studies, especially for cognitive tasks, are still difficult to find in the literature. In this study, 10 healthy adult subjects were scanned in two sessions, 16 weeks apart, while performing a probabilistic reversal learning task known to activate orbitofrontal-striatal circuitry. We quantified the reliability of brain activation by computing intra-class correlation coefficients. Group analysis revealed a high concordance for activation patterns in both measurements. Intra-class correlation coefficients (ICCs) were high for brain activation in the associated regions (dorsolateral prefrontal, anterior prefrontal/insular and cingulate cortices), often exceeding 0.8. We conclude that the probabilistic reversal learning task has a high test-retest reliability, making it suitable as a tool for evaluating the dynamics of deterioration in orbitofrontal-striatal circuitry, e.g. to illustrate the course of a psychiatric disorder.

Reversal learning as a neuropsychological indicator for the neuropathology of obsessive compulsive disorder? A behavioral study.

A dysfunction of the fronto-striatal loop has been associated with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Functional imaging studies suggest that reversal learning is affected by deficits in fronto-striatal brain areas and thus should be impaired in patients with OCD. The authors compared patients with OCD and healthy comparison subjects on a reversal learning task. Correlation analyses and group comparisons showing prolonged reaction times of different response parameters are associated with increasing severity of compulsions. The reversal learning task has been shown to be associated with ventral fronto-striatal brain activation by functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in healthy comparison subjects. The purpose of this article is to suggest that the reversal learning task can be used as a neuropsychiatric measurement of the ventral fronto-striatal dysfunction in OCD.

Sleep in obsessive compulsive disorder: polysomnographic studies under baseline conditions and after experimentally induced serotonin deficiency.

Several lines of evidence suggest that brain serotonergic systems may be disturbed in obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). The serotonergic system strongly affects sleep and characteristic abnormalities of sleep are documented in depression. This study, therefore, aimed to investigate sleep structure of OCD patients in order to evaluate whether similar changes as in depression are present. Up to now, this issue has been addressed only in few studies with small numbers of patients. Sleep patterns of 62 unmedicated patients with primary OCD and 62 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were investigated by polysomnography. Additionally, the impact of tryptophan depletion on sleep was studied in a subgroup of 12 OCD patients and 12 controls. The OCD patients exhibited moderate, but significant disturbances of sleep continuity measures but no abnormalities of slow wave sleep or REM sleep, except a significant elevation of 1st REM density. Tryptophan depletion induced a worsening of sleep continuity, but no changes of REM sleep or slow wave sleep. Assuming that changes of sleep architecture indicate underlying neurobiological abnormalities, this study indicates that neurobiological disturbances are different in primary OCD as compared with primary depression.

Neuropsychological impairment in obsessive-compulsive disorder--improvement over the course of cognitive behavioral treatment.

A large body of studies demonstrates mild cognitive dysfunction in patients with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). Few trials have investigated whether this dysfunction can be improved by treatment. Thirty unmedicated inpatients with OCD were administered a comprehensive neuropsychological test battery before and after 12 weeks of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Thirty-nine carefully matched healthy controls were tested twice within the same interval. At baseline, patients exhibited significant impairments on several tests which normalized at follow-up. A significant group x time interaction was found for tests of nonverbal memory, set shifting and flexible, self guided behavior. Major responders improved significantly more than minor responders on the Rey-Osterrieth Figure immediate and delayed recall. Results suggest that cognitive dysfunction in OCD can improve in the course of treatment. We hypothesize that particularly cognitive behavioral treatment enables OCD patients to think and act in a more flexible way that helps them to develop more effective cognitive strategies.

Severity of subjective cognitive impairment in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder and depression.

Previous research on obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) has consistently found cognitive impairments in the domains of executive and nonverbal (memory) functioning, particularly in patients with comorbid depressive symptoms. In contrast, little is known about the degree to which such deficits are cognizant to patients or the degree to which these impairments interfere with daily activities. The aim of the present study was to assess prevalence and specificity of subjective cognitive dysfunction in OCD patients. A self-rating scale, the Subjective Neurocognition Inventory (SNI), was administered to 67 OCD patients upon admission to hospital. Forty healthy and 30 depressed participants served as controls. Relative to healthy participants, OCD patients reported greater impairment on SNI subscales measuring psychomotor speed, selective and divided attention. Impairments in the OCD group were particularly pronounced in patients with severe OCD or depressive psychopathology. OCD patients were no more disturbed than depressed participants on any of the domains tested. Memory problems were only reported by a minority of OCD patients-even in patients with checking compulsions. In conjunction with prior studies showing few memory difficulties in non-depressed OCD patients, present findings further challenge the memory deficit hypothesis which claims that checking compulsions are a dysfunctional compensation for real or imagined forgetfulness.

Object alternation test--is it sensitive enough to detect cognitive dysfunction in obsessive-compulsive disorder?

A computerized version of the object alternation test (OAT) was employed in unmedicated obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) patients and matched healthy controls. OCD patients performed normally on the OAT but scored below controls on a task assessing visuo-spatial working memory. The results challenge the concept of the OAT as a sensitive instrument for orbitofrontal dysfunction in OCD.

Neuropsychological performance in obsessive-compulsive disorder: a critical review.

There is growing evidence for neuropsychological dysfunction in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) related to an underlying frontal lobe and/or basal ganglia dysfunction. The following paper is a systematical review of the existing literature on cognitive impairment in OCD patients. Fifty studies were surveyed with regard to methodological aspects and cognitive impairments found in OCD patients. In addition, the impact of confounding variables such as psychotropic medication, co-morbidity or severity of symptoms on neuropsychological functioning as well as effects of treatment are discussed. OCD is often related to memory dysfunction that seems to be associated with impaired organization of information at the stage of encoding. Several other executive functions are also commonly disturbed, though results are inconsistent. The results of our study suggest that some cognitive deficits seem to be common in OCD, but future studies should focus more on possible confounding variables such as co-morbidity or psychotropic medication.