<p>Look up <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeffrey_M._Schwartz" rel="nofollow">Jeffery Schwartz</a>. He has done decades worth of scientific studies with hundreds of OCD patients. In <a href="http://www.youarenotyourbrain.com/" rel="nofollow">his book "You Are Not Your Brain"</a> (worth a read) he mentions this bad brain wiring or cognitive deficits are the culprit behind the "Deceptive Brain Messages (OCD).</p>

<p>His studies show that self directed neuro-plasticity make the most corrections in brain wiring - and that the medicine can be an aid in the self directed steps. These self directed steps rely on the mind to alter the physical brain.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-12-06T01:29:07.220Z
2012-12-06T13:09:11.047Z
2012-12-06T13:09:11.047Z
Greg McNulty
<p>Some studies point to existence of cognitive deficits in OCD (it seems that these deficits are not comorbid but have the same neurological roots as OCD). Unfortunately I found no studies with positive effects of medication (SSRI etc.) on cognitive deficits/impairment in OCD patients. I found only one study about cognitive-behavioral therapy and improvement of cognitive deficits symptoms in OCD.</p>

<p>Is there any research that indicates medication used to treat OCD (such as SSRIs) can mitigate these cognitive deficits?</p>

<p><strong>Related articles:</strong></p>

<blockquote>
  <ul>
  <li><p><a href="http://www.steveseay.com/ocd-cognitive-deficits-obsessive-compulsive-disorder" rel="nofollow">http://www.steveseay.com/ocd-cognitive-deficits-obsessive-compulsive-disorder</a></p></li>
  <li><p>Fenger, M. M., Gade, A., Adams, K. H., Hansen, E. S., Bolwig, T. G., &amp;
  Knudsen, G. M. (2005). Cognitive deficits in obsessive-compulsive
  disorder on tests of frontal lobe functions. Nordic journal of
  psychiatry, 59(1), 39-44.
  <a href="http://web.psy.ku.dk/Anders_Gade/pdf/2005Fenger%20OCD.pdf" rel="nofollow">PDF</a></p></li>
  <li><p>Purcell, R., Maruff, P., Kyrios, M., &amp; Pantelis, C. (1998).
  Neuropsychological deficits in obsessive-compulsive disorder: a
  comparison with unipolar depression, panic disorder, and normal
  controls. Archives of General Psychiatry, 55(5), 415.
  <a href="http://archpsyc.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=203866" rel="nofollow">LINK</a></p></li>
  </ul>
</blockquote>

<cognitive-psychology><abnormal-psychology><depression>
Does medication to treat Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder reduce associated cognitive deficits?
Qbik
# Does medication to treat Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder reduce associated cognitive deficits?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2012-12-03)

Some studies point to existence of cognitive deficits in OCD (it seems that these deficits are not comorbid but have the same neurological roots as OCD). Unfortunately I found no studies with positive effects of medication (SSRI etc.) on cognitive deficits/impairment in OCD patients. I found only one study about cognitive-behavioral therapy and improvement of cognitive deficits symptoms in OCD.

Is there any research that indicates medication used to treat OCD (such as SSRIs) can mitigate these cognitive deficits?

**Related articles:**

> * <http://www.steveseay.com/ocd-cognitive-deficits-obsessive-compulsive-disorder>
> * Fenger, M. M., Gade, A., Adams, K. H., Hansen, E. S., Bolwig, T. G., &
>   Knudsen, G. M. (2005). Cognitive deficits in obsessive-compulsive
>   disorder on tests of frontal lobe functions. Nordic journal of
>   psychiatry, 59(1), 39-44.
>   [PDF](http://web.psy.ku.dk/Anders_Gade/pdf/2005Fenger%20OCD.pdf)
> * Purcell, R., Maruff, P., Kyrios, M., & Pantelis, C. (1998).
>   Neuropsychological deficits in obsessive-compulsive disorder: a
>   comparison with unipolar depression, panic disorder, and normal
>   controls. Archives of General Psychiatry, 55(5), 415.
>   [LINK](http://archpsyc.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=203866)

**Tags:** cognitive-psychology, abnormal-psychology, depression


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2012-12-06. Score: 2

Look up [Jeffery Schwartz](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeffrey_M._Schwartz). He has done decades worth of scientific studies with hundreds of OCD patients. In [his book "You Are Not Your Brain"](http://www.youarenotyourbrain.com/) (worth a read) he mentions this bad brain wiring or cognitive deficits are the culprit behind the "Deceptive Brain Messages (OCD).

His studies show that self directed neuro-plasticity make the most corrections in brain wiring - and that the medicine can be an aid in the self directed steps. These self directed steps rely on the mind to alter the physical brain.


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