Cognitive performance in children and adolescents at high-risk for obsessive-compulsive disorder

Abstract

BackgroundCognitive performance has been studied in subclinical obsessive-compulsive (OC) adults and in adults relatives of OCD patients. Meanwhile, no study has been conducted with children under the same conditions. Across a sample with 49 participants, we investigated whether children and adolescents at high-risk (HR) for OCD (n=18) would present an impaired performance on neurocognitive domains compared to healthy controls (HC, n=31), especially in visuoconstructive ability, executive functions, and intellectual efficiency, functions previously associated with OCD. MethodsFor the HR group, we considered the first-degree children relatives of patients with OCD that present obsessive-compulsive symptoms (OCS), but do not meet diagnostic criteria for OCD. Child psychiatric diagnoses were assessed by the Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia (K-SADS-PL) by experienced and trained psychologists and OCS were measured by Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS). ResultsAlthough we did not find differences in the domains previously hypothesized, a Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA) revealed impairments in processing speed in HR group (p =0.019; F=3.115), and a t-test identified a higher IQ discrepancy in HR group when compared to HC (p =0.030; t =-2.239), and a discrepancy in verbal and non-verbal abilities as in the memory and working memory tasks. ConclusionsOur results suggest that differences in motor and processing speed and in IQ discrepancy are already present and were identified in a non-clinical sample of HR subjects. Further studies should investigate neurocognitive domains as possible predictors of pediatric OCD.