OCD and Its Effect on Memory According to some studies, episodic memory seems to be the kind of memory most affected in patients who've been diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Previous neuropsychological studies indicate that OCD subtypes such as checking rituals might be associated with a working memory deficit.
False memory OCD is a subset of obsessive-compulsive disorder that can cause people to doubt memories about their past. It can also make them wonder if they did something but can't remember. Learning to recognize false memories of OCD can help you avoid being swept away by doubts and fear.
Impairments in set-shifting ability, alternation, response inhibition, and nonverbal memory[8] are seen in patients even after symptomatic recovery suggesting trait nature of these deficits. These studies support neuropsychological deficits in OCD as endophenotypes.
Another line of research suggests conviction of the veracity of one's memories in OCD may be distorted. Valid memories may constitute high standards in OCD resulting in heightened distrust of memory traces[12, 16] that may contribute to, or result from, repeated checking.
In some people, a late diagnosis of OCD may indicate the presence of dementia. One study analyzed two people with late-onset OCD. Both individuals were over the age of 60 when they showed signs of OCD. After further testing, researchers found that they both had a form of dementia.
The results from the questionnaire demonstrated a strong correlation between inferential confusion and OCD symptoms suggesting that inferential confusion is a characteristic of OCD.
Doubting and having difficulty tolerating uncertainty. Needing things orderly and symmetrical. Aggressive or horrific thoughts about losing control and harming yourself or others. Unwanted thoughts, including aggression, or sexual or religious subjects.
Imaging, surgical, and lesion studies suggest that the prefrontal cortex (orbitofrontal and anterior cingulate cortexes), basal ganglia, and thalamus are involved in the pathogenesis of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
Cognitive characteristics
Obsessive thoughts are the main cognitive feature of OCD. Examples of reoccurring thoughts include: Fear of contamination, by dirt or germs; Fear of safety, by leaving doors or windows; religious fears, from being immoral; perfectionism, a fear of not being the best.
People with False Memory OCD experience frequent doubts about things that have happened to them and can become convinced they've done something wrong despite there being no evidence these memories are accurate.
People with OCD often have issues with confidence because they are constantly doubting themselves and their abilities. This can be extremely frustrating and debilitating, as it can prevent them from enjoying activities or participating in activities that they used to enjoy.
Intrusive memories involve mental imagery-based impressions that intrude into mind involuntarily, and are emotional. Here we consider how recent advances in cognitive science have fueled our understanding of the development and possible treatment of intrusive memories of trauma.
Repeating compulsions can take up a lot of time, and you might avoid certain situations that trigger your OCD. This can mean that you're not able to go to work, see family and friends, eat out or even go outside. Obsessive thoughts can make it hard to concentrate and leave you feeling exhausted.
The inheritance pattern of OCD is unclear. Overall, the risk of developing this condition is greater for first-degree relatives of affected individuals (such as siblings or children) as compared to the general public.
It's an important scientific insight, but it's not a diagnostic test. The fact is, the vast majority of the time, a brain scan in someone with OCD looks completely normal.
Trauma, stress, and abuse all can be a cause of OCD getting worse. OCD causes intense urges to complete a task or perform a ritual. For those who have the condition, obsessions and compulsions can begin to rule their life.
OCD can manifest in four main ways: contamination/washing, doubt/checking, ordering/arranging, and unacceptable/taboo thoughts.
The condition often involves cognitive distortions, which are inaccurate, unhelpful, and irrational beliefs that make us feel bad about ourselves. There are many types of cognitive distortion, and black-and-white thinking – also called all-or-nothing thinking — is common in OCD.
Someone who's considered to have OCD with poor or absent insight might not readily acknowledge their thoughts and behaviors as problematic or unreasonable. This can be considered psychosis. OCD with poor or absent insight is when symptoms of psychosis might appear.
Other studies reported that psychotic symptoms like hallucinations, delusions, and thought disorders are more common in OCD patients than in the rest of population (Bortolon & Raffard, 2015; Eisen & Rasmussen, 1993).
Signs and symptoms of OCD
Obsessive thoughts: These obsession symptoms typically intrude other thoughts when you're trying to do or think about other things and may include: Fear of being contaminated by germs or dirt. Intrusive sexually explicit or violent thoughts. Fear of having a serious illness.