Impulsivity and obsessive-compulsive symptoms in a non-clinical sample

Introduction: For the last decade it has been discussed if obsessive-compulsive disorder should not rather be conceptualized as a disorder of impulse control instead of an anxiety disorder. Corresponding empirical studies found either no correlations between impulsivity and obsessive-compulsive questionnaires or only for a subgroup of obsessive-compulsive patients. However, cognitive impulsivity research shows that impulsivity questionnaires only assess one aspect of this personality construct which does not show any or only low correlations with behavioral measures of this trait. Therefore, the present study investigates if discordance between subjective and behavioral impulsivity is related to the degree of obsessive-compulsive symptoms. According to this hypothesis obsessive-compulsive symptoms would represent the expression of a subjectively overestimated or already overcompensated behavioral impulsivity. Methods: 80 participants were assessed by means of three methods measuring behavioral impulsivity and one questionnaire measuring subjective impulsivity. The extent of obsessive-compulsive behavior was assessed with the Maudsley Obsessive Compulsive Inventory. Results and Discussion: Results lead to the acceptance of the hypothesis. Implications for the controversial nosology of obsessive-compulsive disorder are discussed.