Neuropsychological performance in body dysmorphic disorder

Fourteen patients with body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) were assessed with neuropsychological measures, including tests of executive, mnestic, and motor functions. Performance in these patients was compared to 10 patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), 14 patients with schizophrenia, and 24 normal controls. Findings indicated normal performance of the BDD group on measures of mnestic and motor function, but poor performance of this group on tests of executive function (p < .05). The overall performance of the BDD and OCD groups on the neuropsychological measures was similar, while the schizophrenic groups showed a wider spectrum of neuropsychological deficits to these groups. These findings are discussed in terms of current theories of executive functions and the possible relationship between BDD and OCD.