Subjective Perception of Impulsivity in Patients with Obsessive –Compulsive Disorder

Abstract

The diagnostic heterogeneity, its nosological placement, and the notion of spectrumrather than the earlier position of specific types or traits to understand personalityfactors in obsessive compulsive disorders is gaining ground. There is someinconsistency regarding placement of impulsivity as ‘low’ pole or central axis in thisspectrum, thereby, warranting further investigation. This hospital based two-groupcross comparative study examines impulsivity in patients with obsessive compulsivedisorder (N=30) against matched healthy controls (N=30). Using purposivesampling, target respondents were administered ‘Barratt Impulsiveness Scale’ and‘Cambridge Gambling Task’. Inferential statistical techniques used to compare thetwo groups and identify covariance between scores on the studied variables revealthat patients with obsessive compulsive disorder consistently score high onimpulsivity in comparison to normal healthy controls. These findings are discussedwith opposing findings before concluding on the need for deeper investigations inthis area which has bearing on planning treatment regimes for reduction of impulsivityin patients suffering from such clinical conditions.