Frontal-Lobe Dysfunction in Schizophrenia and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder - A Neuropsychological Study

• Published in: Brain and cognition Vol. 27; no. 2; pp. 202 - 212
• Main Authors: Abbruzzese, M., Bellodi, L., Ferri, S., Scarone, S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.03.1995
• Subjects: Adult; Female; Frontal Lobe - physiopathology; Humans; Male; Neuropsychological Tests - statistics & numerical data; Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder - diagnosis; Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder - physiopathology; Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder - psychology; Prefrontal Cortex - physiopathology; Psychometrics; Reference Values; Schizophrenia - diagnosis; Schizophrenia - physiopathology; Schizophrenic Psychology
• ISSN: 0278-2626; 1090-2147
• DOI: 10.1006/brcg.1995.1017

Converging evidence suggests there is a specific role of dorso-lateral-prefrontal cortex (DLPC) in schizophrenic disorders and of orbite-frontal cortex (OFC) in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Here, 25 schizophrenic and 25 OCD patients were evaluated with Wisconsin Card Sorting Test and Object Alternation Test; neuropsychological tools sensitive to DLPC and OFC damage, respectively; and compared with 25 subjects of a control group. Moreover, they all underwent Weigls Sorting Test and the Word Fluency Test to assess global frontal functioning. The results indicated a DLPC deficit in schizophrenia and an OFC involvement in OCD. These data suggest that functional disorders of the central nervous system can be explored with neuropsychological instruments.