| dc.description.abstract | Neuropsychological functioning was examined in 118 introductory psychology
students (males=43, females=75) who reported varying levels of nonclinical
obsessive-compulsive behaviours. Using the four subscales of the Padua
Inventory, five groups of students were identified: (1) High Obsessive-
Compulsives (N=22); (2) Low Obsessive-Compulsives (N=23); (3) High
Compulsives (N=24); (4) High Obsessives (N=25); and (5) Normal Scorers
(N=24). It was assumed that students reporting nonclinical obsessivecompulsive
behaviour would demonstrate visual spatial deficits that were
similar to what has been reported in recent research on obsessive-compulsive
patients. A visual spatial memory deficit involving the organization and recall
of sequences was identified in the high compulsive group compared to the
normal and high obsessive scorers. This finding could not be explained by
group differences in depression, anxiety, or intelligence. Failure to find any
group differences in verbal memory indicative of left-hemisphere functioning
implies that the deficit seen in compulsives may reflect right-hemisphere
impairment. Gender differences in verbal and visual spatial tasks was
observed. The findings are congruent with recent neuropsychological research
on clinical obsessive-compulsives and nonclinical compulsive ’checkers’. | |
