Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a highly debilitating anxiety disorder that affects1%-3% of the general population. It ischaracterized by compulsions aimed at reducing anxiety associated with intrusive cognitions (obsessions). However, compulsive behaviors were found to increase rather than decrease uncertainty related to obsessive thoughts. There are some beneficial therapeutic interventions but many of the patients continue tosuffer from significant symptoms even after undergoing these treatments. One of the reasons for this is that little is known about how and why OCD develops.
It is well known that OCD patients experience difficulties in executive functions but it is considered to be outcomes of the OCD. We examine the possibility that inhibitory deficits contribute to the development of OCD and if so, could training of inhibitory control help OCD patients.
In our past experiments we used a compulsive-like checking manipulation on healthy participants (they had to repeatedly check a gas stove and make sure that it is off) and examined its effects on cognitive inhibition.We are also interested in the correlation between the quality of inhibition and obsessive thoughts and symptoms.
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