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

Author(s):Show less -

Bernardes, Elisa Teixeira ^[1] ; Saraiva, Leonardo Cardoso ^[1] ; de Marco e Souza, Marina ^[1] ; Queiroz-Hoexter, Marcelo ^[1] ; Chacon, Priscila ^[1] ; Requena, Guaraci ^[2] ; Miguel, Euripedes Constantino ^[1] ; Shavitt, Roseli Gedanke ^[1] ; Polanczyk, Guilherme Vanoni ^[1] ; Cappi, Carolina ^[1] ; Batistuzzo, Marcelo Camargo ^{[1, 3]}

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Hosp Clin HCFMUSP, Fac Med, Dept Psiquiatria, R Dr Ovidio Pires de Campos 875, Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Fed Vicosa, Inst Ciencias Exatas & Tecnol, Vicosa, MG - Brazil

^[3] Pontificia Univ Catolica Sao Paulo, Fac Ciencias Humanas & SaUde, Curso Psicol, Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: BMC Psychiatry; v. 20, n. 1 JUL 20 2020.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Background Cognitive performance has been studied in adults with obsessive-compulsive symptoms (OCS) and in adult relatives of patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) Meanwhile, few studies have been conducted with children under the same conditions. This study compared the neurocognitive domains previously associated with dysfunction in OCD, especially visuoconstructive ability, visuospatial memory, executive functions, and intelligence, in children and adolescents at high risk (HR) for OCD (n = 18) and non-OCD controls (NOC) (n = 31). Methods For the HR group, we considered the first-degree relatives of patients with OCD that present OCS, but do not meet diagnostic criteria for OCD. Psychiatric diagnosis was assessed by experienced clinicians using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV and OCS severity was measured by the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale. Neurocognitive assessment was performed with a comprehensive neuropsychological battery. Performance on the cognitive domains was compared between groups using Multivariate Analysis of Variance, whereas performance on the neuropsychological variables was compared between groups using independent t-tests in a cognitive subdomain analysis. Results The cognitive domain analysis revealed a trend towards significance for impairments in the motor and processing speed domain (p = 0.019; F = 3.12) in the HR group. Moreover, the cognitive subdomain analysis identified a statistically significant underperformance in spatial working memory in the HR group when compared to the NOC group (p = 0.005;t = - 2.94), and a trend towards significance for impairments in non-verbal memory and visuoconstructive tasks in the HR group. Conclusions Our results suggest impairments in spatial working memory and motor and processing speed in a non-clinical sample of HR participants. Considering the preliminary nature of our findings, further studies investigating these neurocognitive domains as potential predictors of pediatric OCD are warranted. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 16/05865-8 - Ventromedial prefrontal cortex metabolite levels in obsessive-compulsive patients: a proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy study
• Grantee: Marcelo Camargo Batistuzzo
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 16/04595-7 - Neuropsychological assessment of children and adolescents with OCD: comparison with healthy controls and impact of treatment
• Grantee: Marina de Marco e Souza
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master