강박장애 환자의 반응억제 결함

Abstract

Objective : Impaired response inhibition has been suggested to play an important role in the pathophysiology of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The aim of this study was to evaluate the response inhibition in patients with OCD, by using the Go/NoGo paradigm, and to better understand its associations with clinical symptoms.

Methods : The participants included 63 OCD patients and 80 healthy volunteers matched in age and sex. response inhibition was evaluated using computerized Go/NoGo task, in which their commission error rates, omission error rates, and mean response times were measured. The severity of clinical symptoms in the OCD patients was assessed using Montgomery-Asberg Depression Scale and Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale.

Result : OCD patients showed significantly impaired inhibition and higher omission errors rates despite their slower response time, compared to normal controls. Clinical symptoms were not correlated with commission errors and omission errors.

Conclusion : The present results indicate that impairment in response inhibition may play a critical role in the pathophysiology of OCD as a trait. These findings suggest that deficit of response inhibition may contribute to developing and maintaining clinical symptoms such as compelling need to repeat certain actions in patients with OCD.