Neurocognitive performance in the context of acute symptom reduction in OCD: Treatment effects and the impact of BDNF

Abstract

Background: Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) has been associated with neurocognitive impairments. The present study examined the effect of treatment on neurocognitive performance in OCD and the relationship between neurocognitive change and symptom change. The present study also examined polymorphisms influencing brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) as predictors of neurocognitive change.

Method: Treatment-seeking participants with OCD (N = 125) were assigned to cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) alone, CBT combined with regular physical exercise, exercise alone, or a waitlist control group. Measures of OCD symptom severity and a neuropsychological battery were completed pre- and post-treatment. Blood or saliva samples were used to genotype the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism.

Results: OCD symptom severity was not cross-sectionally associated with neurocognitive performance. Several neurocognitive measures improved over treatment. The BDNF Val66Met polymorphism was significantly associated with worse performance on the Stroop test but did not significantly predict change in neurocognitive performance over time.

Limitations: Limitations include lack of a healthy control group.

Conclusion: Improvement in neurocognitive performance corresponded to symptomatic improvement and was independent of the BDNF Val66Met genotype.

Keywords: BDNF; Cognitive-behavioural; Executive function; Exercise; Genetic; Obsessive-compulsive disorder.