When to move on to the next one? Foraging patterns in individuals with obsessive-compulsive disorder versus individuals with no mental disorder

Abstract

A newly developed iPad task was used to compare foraging behavior among individuals with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) as a primary diagnosis versus individuals with no mental disorders. During feature foraging people tend to switch easily between target types. In conjunction search, however, the foraging behavior changes due to increased attentional load and searchers tend to forage in long runs. Our primary objective was to replicate previous findings (see e.g. Kristjánsson et al., 2014) on run behavior in feature and conjunction search. Additionally, we wanted to extend the previous findings by examining individuals with a diagnosis of OCD. Thirteen individuals with OCD as primary diagnosis and 19 individuals with no mental disorders (comparison group) participated in the study. We examined the role of patch-leaving in both feature and conjunction search. We predicted that individuals with OCD would show checking behavior by tapping on same targets multiple times and dwell longer on each patch needing a “just right feeling” before moving on. We replicated previous findings on run behavior and the patch-leaving component in our study revealed diversity and individual differences in run patterns. Most of our hypotheses were not supported, neither did it demonstrate compulsive checking nor that individuals with OCD had difficulties in ending a search. However, the OCD group did perform differently on some aspects of the task, which need further study.