Detailed contribution information
| Contribution title | Impulsivity, Risk Taking and Decision Making in adolescents with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) |
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| Contribution code | D2.104 |
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| Form of presentation | Poster |
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| Abstract |
Impulsivity and compulsivity were traditionally viewed as opposite ends of a spectrum, but recent research suggests they may operate independently, contributing uniquely to disorders like OCD. This study investigated impulsivity, risk-taking, and decision-making in adolescents with OCD compared to Typically Developing Adolescents (TDA), emphasizing the importance of these factors in tailoring interventions for this population. Using a case-control design, data were collected from 16 adolescents with OCD and 16 TDAs aged 12–17 years through self-report measures (Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire [SDQ], Children’s Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale [CY-BOCS], Barratt Impulsiveness Scale [BIS-11], Modified-Adolescent Risk Behaviour Questionnaire [M-ARBQ]) and task-based measures (Stop Signal Task [SST], Delay Discounting Task [DDT], Balloon Analogue Risk Task [BART], Iowa Gambling Task [IGT]). The study was approved by the Institute Ethical Committee and ethical guidelines were strictly adhered to. The parental consent, and adolescent assent were obtained before data collection. Tasks were administered using InQuisit 6 software with counterbalanced orders and adequate breaks. Statistical analyses included Spearman’s correlation to assess relationships between variables and Mann-Whitney U tests for group comparisons. Findings showed that OCD severity correlated positively with difficulties (SDQ, Spearman’s Rho = .504*) and the motor dimension of self-reported impulsivity (BIS-11, 0.769**) but negatively with task-based impulsivity (Delay Discounting Task, -0.836**). Adolescents with OCD reported significantly greater difficulties (U = 13.00**) and higher self-reported motor impulsivity (U = 191*) than TDAs. These results highlight the context-dependent nature of impulsivity in OCD, where perceived (self-reported) impulsivity, particularly motor impulsivity, increases with OCD severity, while behavioural (task-based) impulsivity decreases. Clinicians and researchers should interpret impulsivity in OCD within its broader cognitive and emotional framework. Integrating task-based measures with self-reports offers a comprehensive understanding of impulsivity and informs targeted interventions. These findings underscore the need for strategies focusing on attentional control and cognitive flexibility, potentially guiding precision interventions for adolescents with OCD. |