A comparison of executive function in Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Izelle Labuschagne, Susan Lee Rossell, Judy Dunai, David Jonathan Castle, Michael Kyrios

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleResearchpeer-review

18 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

This study compared 14 BDD participants on neurocognitive tasks taken from the Cambridge Automated Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB) with previously published data from 23 OCD participants (Purcell, Maruff, Kyrios, Pantelis, 1998). Effect sizes from three executive function tests (Spatial Span, Spatial Working Memory and Stockings of Cambridge), and one visual memory task (Pattern Recognition) were compared for group differences using difference and equivalence testing. Equivalence testing was used to determine whether BDD and OCD effects sizes were equivalent, non-equivalent or equivocal. Results indicated an equivocal pattern for Spatial Span, Spatial Working Memory, Pattern Recognition and most Stockings of Cambridge measures. However, results for Stockings of Cambridge accuracy measure indicated a non-equivalent pattern, with BDD but not OCD participants performing significantly worse than controls. Results suggest a number of similarities in neurocognitive function in BDD and OCD, although it was not possible to establish statistical equivalence on most study measures. The findings raise the possibility of more severe planning deficits in BDD compared to OCD.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)257 - 262
Number of pages6
JournalJournal of Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders
Volume2
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2013

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