Computerized tomography and neuropsychological test measures in adolescents with obsessive-compulsive disorder

Am J Psychiatry. 1984 Mar;141(3):363-9. doi: 10.1176/ajp.141.3.363.

Abstract

The authors administered CAT scans and neuropsychological tests to 16 adolescents with obsessive-compulsive disorder (mean age +/- SD = 13.7 +/- 1.6 years) and 16 matched controls. The patients had a mean ventricular-brain ratio (VBR) significantly higher than the controls' and showed spatial-perceptual deficits similar to those found in patients with frontal lobe lesions. Memory, reaction time, and decision time did not differ significantly from controls'. Neurodevelopmental examination of seven patients yielded a high frequency of age-inappropriate synkinesias and left hemibody signs. These results suggest CNS dysfunctioning in children with obsessive-compulsive disorder, with possible right cerebral involvement. However, the patients' neuropsychological test deficits and VBRs were not correlated.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Brain / anatomy & histology
  • Brain / diagnostic imaging
  • Brain / physiopathology
  • Cerebral Ventricles / anatomy & histology
  • Child
  • Dominance, Cerebral
  • Electroencephalography
  • Female
  • Frontal Lobe / physiopathology
  • Humans
  • Hydrocephalus / diagnostic imaging
  • Hydrocephalus / physiopathology
  • Male
  • Neurologic Examination
  • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / diagnosis*
  • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / physiopathology
  • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / psychology
  • Psychological Tests*
  • Psychomotor Performance
  • Reaction Time
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed*
  • Wechsler Scales