Neuropsychological Functioning Among Patients with OCD in Asian Countries: A Systematic Review.

Objective: This systematic review aimed to identify the effect of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) on cognitive processes, such as memory, executive functioning, and cognitive flexibility, among the adult populations of Asian countries.

Methods: The systematic review progressed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. It is comprised of articles sourced from Asian countries published from 2018 to 2022, and literature about deficits in memory, executive functioning, and cognitive flexibility in the OCD population was gathered from five electronic databases, including Google Scholar, PubMed, Research Gate, Science Direct, and Wiley Online Library. Full-text impact factor articles in the English language were considered in this study.

Results: This study screened 44 articles; five were included based on the eligibility criteria for the present systematic review. Four articles found cognitive deficits in the domains of executive functioning, memory, and cognitive flexibility among patients with OCD, whereas results of one article showed normal cognitive performance of the patients. Demographic variables showed no significant differences between patients with OCD and healthy controls.

Conclusion: This systematic review indicated deficits specifically in the cognitive functioning and flexibility of patients with OCD. Despite a noticeable prevalence of OCD in Asian countries, the literature on correlates and neurological functioning is scarce. Further studies are required to examine the effects on the larger population and provide knowledge in those countries and areas where people are suffering because of minimal knowledge regarding OCD.