Dissertations and Theses @ UNI
Availability
Open Access Thesis
Keywords
Obsessive-compulsive disorder--Diagnosis;
Abstract
Recent studies suggest deficits in set-shifting ability, as assessed by tasks such as the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST), in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The present study examined the extent to which these deficits were demonstrated by nonclinical "checkers" selected on the basis of scores on the Maudsley Obsessional Compulsive Inventory. A modified version of the WCST was used, the Milwaukee Card Sorting Test (MCST), in order to determine whether the deficits in set-shifting ability are due to a complete lack of switching or to a dysregulation in switching. In the latter case, the individual illustrates correct set shifting in his /her verbal response, but the actual behavior does not match the verbalized response and represents a perseveration to the previous category. It was found that the group of 25 non checkers did not differ significantly from the group of 25 checkers in number of perseverative errors. However, the two groups differed on a score that reflects inappropriate or ineffective switching. Consequently, the hypothesis that the checkers would demonstrate a dysregulation of shifting rather than a complete lack of switching was supported. The current findings suggest that even in individuals with sub-clinical levels of obsessive symptoms who were selected on the basis of higher scores on the Maudsley Obessional Compulsive Inventory demonstrate inappropriate or ineffective switching that potentially reflects mild frontal lobe dysfunction.
Year of Submission
1998
Degree Name
Master of Arts
Department
Department of Psychology
First Advisor
Jane Wong
Second Advisor
Frank Barrios
Third Advisor
Linda Walsh
Date Original
1998
Object Description
1 PDF file (91 leaves)
Copyright
©1998 Christopher J. Boys
Language
en
File Format
application/pdf
Recommended Citation
Boys, Christopher J., "Frontal Lobe Dysfunction in Non-clinical Compulsive Checkers" (1998). Dissertations and Theses @ UNI. 2154.
https://scholarworks.uni.edu/etd/2154
Comments
If you are the rightful copyright holder of this thesis and wish to have it removed from the Open Access Collection, please submit a request to scholarworks@uni.edu and include clear identification of the work, preferably with URL.