Social style, motivations & reasoning ability of people with OCD
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Autistic Traits in Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: Exploring Underlying Motivational Processes and Neurocognitive Profiles
IRAS ID
121916
Contact name
William Mandy
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University College London
Research summary
OCD, which is traditionally considered to be an anxiety disorder, has been assumed to be a unitary diagnostic entity. However individuals with OCD experience a wide range of non-overlapping symptom patterns, and response to treatment is variable amongst people with the disorder, with 40-60% having poor outcomes. This could be because OCD is not a homogenous diagnostic entity. It has been hypothesized that OCD is better defined according to two broad subtypes; one which fits more within the framework of a neurodevelopmental disorder and one which fits more within a framework of an anxiety disorder.
The aim of this study is to investigate empirically whether within the population of adults with OCD there are two subgroups; one group whose symptoms reflect an anxiety disorder and another group who have developed OCD in the context of marked neurodevelopmental difficulties. There is some phenomenological overlap of OCD symptoms with ASD and as such we hypothesise that the neurodevelopmental subgroup may be well defined according to ASD traits. Specifically the study will look to investigate the theoretical proposition that there is a subgroup of adults with a diagnosis of OCD who represent individuals with high functioning ASD.
In order to support this theory this study will investigate the neurocognitive profiles and underlying motivational processes driving the repetitive and compulsive behaviours of two groups of adults with a diagnosis of OCD, divided according to their score on the Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ) to pick up indications of abnormal neurodevelopment.
We will use appropriate questionnaires and standardized neuropsychological assessments as follows:
1. The 2 subtest version of the Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence ® (WASI – II).2. The six elements subtest of the Behavioural Assessment of the Dysexecutive Syndrome.
3. The intra-extra dimensional shift task from the Cambridge Automated Neuropsychological Test Battery (CANTAB)
4. The emotion recognition task from the CANTAB.
5. The Revised Eyes test.
6. The Hayling sentence completion test.
7. The Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure Test (RCFT).
8. The design fluency subtest from the Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System (D-KEFS).
9. Obsessive Compulsive Trait Core Dimensions Questionnaire (OC-TCDQ)
10. Adolescent /Adult Sensory Profile (AASP)
11. Responsibility Attitudes Questionnaire (RAS)
If delineation between these two groups is achieved it would be informative in planning clinical interventions (e.g. tailored CBT packages). This would be particularly helpful if an OCD with ASD traits group is elucidated and found to be more prevalent in the population of individuals with OCD who have poor treatment outcomes.
REC name
London - Harrow Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
13/LO/0595
Date of REC Opinion
26 Jun 2013
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion