General opinion has long held a supposed relationship between obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and an above-average intelligence quotient (IQ). However, researchers from Ben Gurion University of the Negev (BGU), Texas State University, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill conducted what is believed to be the first analysis of existing data between IQ and obsessional disorder. compulsive disorder present in the general population.
The study’s authors traced the origins of the myth to French philosopher, physician and psychologist Pierre Janet in 1903, although it was Sigmund Freud who popularized the hypothesis in 1909.
“Although this myth was never empirically studied until now, it is still a widespread belief among mental health professionals, OCD patients and the general public,” explains Gideon Anholt, senior lecturer in the Department of Psychology at BGU.
The small reduction in IQ scores in OCD patients may be due to OCD-related slowness rather than intellectual ability.
The researchers conducted a meta-analysis of all available literature on IQ in OCD samples versus non-psychiatric controls (98 studies). They found that, contrary to the prevalent myth, OCD is not associated with a higher IQ, but rather with a normative IQ that is slightly lower compared to control samples.
The authors suggest that the small reduction in IQ scores in OCD patients may be due to OCD-related slowness rather than intellectual ability.
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The popular misunderstanding about OCD has been promoted by television shows such as “Monk” which show an individual with OCD using his superior intelligence to solve challenging mysteries. The problem with these types of beliefs is that they can facilitate the misconception that there are advantages associated with the disorder, which could decrease motivation to seek professional help.
For researchers, future IQ assessments of people with OCD should focus on verbal IQ and not performance, since the latter represents a measure strongly influenced by slowness.
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