Memory performance in obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) is
discussed as a pathogenetic risk factor for the emergence of OCD,
particularly checking compulsions. At present, however, findings are mixed
and little is known about memory performance in tasks relevant to everyday
functioning in patients with OCD. For the present study, memory
performance was assessed in 31 patients diagnosed with OCD and 33 healthy
controls with the Rivermead Behavioural Memory Test (RBMT), which covers a
wide range of verbal and nonverbal memory components as well as
prospective memory. OCD patients performed comparably to healthy controls
on the memory task for verbal, nonverbal, and prospective memory
(p > .1). According to norm values, memory performance was
unimpaired in most OCD patients. The present findings further challenge a
broad account of the “memory deficit” hypothesis of OCD and
compulsive checking, respectively (JINS, 2006, 12,
746–749.)