Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder in Patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Comparative Study with Healthy Older Adults

ABSTRACT Objective: Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is considered as a prodromal state and a risk factor for dementia. To best of our knowledge, no previous studies have examined the relationship between Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and MCI. One of the risk factors for the development of MCI may be OCD. In this study, we hypothesized that the patients with MCI had significantly higher rate of OCD than healthy olders, and some types of preexisting OC symptoms may be associated with MCI. Methods: A total of 66 subjects were assessed for severity of cognitive impairment using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Clinical Dementia Rating Scale (CDR), and Addenbrooke’s Cognitive Examination III tests (ACE-III). Lifetime diagnosis of OCD was assessed through Structured Clinical Interview of DSM-IV Axis I disorders (SCID-I). The severity of OCD, and the content of previous Obsessive-Compulsive (OC) symptoms were measured by Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (YBOCS). Results: MCI patients had more previous depressive episodes, and a lifetime diagnosis of OCD when compared with healthy subjects. Educational level was significantly lower in MCI patients than in healthy elders. The contamination obsessions, cleaning, and checking compulsions were significantly higher in the patients with MCI than in healthy subjects. Conclusion: Our findings may demonstrate that lower educational level, previous OCD, checking compulsions, and current anxiety and depression severity appeared significantly associated with MCI. We suggest that previous OCD and checking OC symptoms may be related to earlier stages of memory dysfunction.

Abstract

Objective: Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is considered as a prodromal state and a risk factor for dementia. To best of our knowledge, no previous studies have examined the relationship between Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and MCI. One of the risk factors for the development of MCI may be OCD. In this study, we hypothesized that the patients with MCI had significantly higher rate of OCD than healthy olders, and some types of preexisting OC symptoms may be associated with MCI. Methods: A total of 66 subjects were assessed for severity of cognitive impairment using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Clinical Dementia Rating Scale (CDR), and Addenbrooke’s Cognitive Examination III tests (ACE-III). Lifetime diagnosis of OCD was assessed through Structured Clinical Interview of DSM-IV Axis I disorders (SCID-I). The severity of OCD, and the content of previous Obsessive-Compulsive (OC) symptoms were measured by Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (YBOCS). Results: MCI patients had more previous depressive episodes, and a lifetime diagnosis of OCD when compared with healthy subjects. Educational level was significantly lower in MCI patients than in healthy elders. The contamination obsessions, cleaning, and checking compulsions were significantly higher in the patients with MCI than in healthy subjects. Conclusion: Our findings may demonstrate that lower educational level, previous OCD, checking compulsions, and current anxiety and depression severity appeared significantly associated with MCI. We suggest that previous OCD and checking OC symptoms may be related to earlier stages of memory dysfunction.