Orbitofrontal cortex dysfunction in obsessive-compulsive disorder? I. Alternation learning in obsessive-compulsive disorder: Male-female comparisons

Background: We have previously reported a significant negative correlation between severity of symptoms and performance of an alternation learning task in female obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) patients. The present study was aimed at exploring this relationship between alternation learning and OCD symptom severity in male OCD patients. Methods and results: Eighteen female obsessive-compulsive disorder patients and 14 male non-depressed, drug free, OCD patients participated in the study. Measures of dorsolateral prefrontal function (Wisconsin Card Sorting Test) and orbitofrontal cortex function (object alternation learning) showed no significant differences between the sexes. The relationship between orbitofrontal cortex function and severity of OC symptoms was significantly different between the sexes (z=2.44, P=0.007). While this correlation was negative in the females it was positive in the males. Conclusions: These results may indicate sexual dimorphism in OCD. Copyright (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V./ECNP.