Non-Clinical Obsessive Compulsive Symptoms and Executive Functions in Schizophrenia

The impact of non-clinical obsessive compulsive symptoms (OCS) on neuropsychological functioning in schizophrenia has received little investigation. We evaluated whether severity and subtype of OCS are associated with executive functioning in schizophrenia. Twenty-nine patients with schizophrenia and 32 healthy subjects completed questionnaire and performance-based measures of executive functioning Overall OCS severity in patients was associated with poorer monitoring and cognitive flexibility per a questionnaire. Obsessing, hoarding, and checking were related to poorer executive functioning in daily life. Performance-based scores showed few correlations with OCS. Findings indicate that severity of non-clinical OCS subtypes contribute to the heterogeneity of executive functions in schizophrenia.