Neurocognitive indices of executive hypercontrol in obsessive–compulsive disorder

Objective: Cognitive impairment, more often involving memory and/or executive functions, has been reported in obsessive–compulsive (OC) patients. The present study aimed at: i) replicating, in an independent sample, previous findings by our group showing neurocognitive slowness limited to executive tasks; ii) assessing the influence of deficit in general cognitive abilities on executive dysfunction. Method: A comprehensive neuropsychological battery was administered to 30 drug‐free OC patients and 30 healthy controls. Results: Obsessive–compulsive patients performed worse on visuospatial tests, were slower on executive tasks, and performed worse on the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test. After covarying for Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale‐Revised performance Intellectual Quotient, a lesser degree of executive dysfunction was observed. Conclusion: Obsessive–compulsive patients exhibit an impairment of executive functions, especially when tasks also require visuospatial abilities. The impairment might reflect a hyperactivity of the executive control.