Response Inhibition, Cognitive Flexibility and Working Memory in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Social Anxiety Disorder

Ana Isabel Rosa-Alcázar, Ángel Rosa-Alcázar, Inmaculada C. Martínez-Esparza, Eric A. Storch and Pablo J. Olivares-Olivares
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Ana Isabel Rosa-Alcázar: Department of Personality, Assessment & Psychological Treatment, University of Murcia, Espinardo, 30100 Murcia, Spain
Ángel Rosa-Alcázar: Department of Psychology, Catholic University of Murcia, Guadalupe, 30107 Murcia, Spain
Inmaculada C. Martínez-Esparza: Department of Personality, Assessment & Psychological Treatment, University of Murcia, Espinardo, 30100 Murcia, Spain
Eric A. Storch: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
Pablo J. Olivares-Olivares: Department of Personality, Assessment & Psychological Treatment, University of Murcia, Espinardo, 30100 Murcia, Spain

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 7, 1-13

Abstract: This study analyzed response inhibition, cognitive flexibility and working memory in three groups of patients diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder, social anxiety disorder and generalized anxiety disorder, considering some variables that may influence results (nonverbal reasoning, comorbidity, use of pharmacotherapy). Neuropsychological measures were completed using a computerized Wisconsin card sorting test, Stroop color word test, go/no-go task, digits and Corsi. Significant differences were obtained among groups in cognitive flexibility and working memory variables. The obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) group showed the worst results. The social anxiety disorder group obtained greater effect sizes in visuospatial memory. However, significant differences between groups in visuospatial memory were no longer present when nonverbal reasoning was controlled. Comorbidity influenced interference in the OCD and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) groups. In addition, the executive functions were differently influenced by the level of obsessions and anxiety, and the use of pharmacotherapy. Study limitations include a non-random selection of participants, modest sample size and design type (cross-sectional). The OCD group showed the worst results in flexibility cognitive and verbal working memory. Comorbidity, use of pharmacotherapy and level anxiety and obsessions were variables influencing the performance of executive functions.

Keywords: obsessive-compulsive disorder; generalized anxiety disorder; social anxiety disorder; executive function (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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