Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and Decision Making under Ambiguity: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis

In the last decade, decision-making has been proposed to have a central role in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) aetiology, since patients show pathological doubt and an apparent inability make decisions. Here, we aimed comprehensively review decision making under ambiguity, as measured by Iowa Gambling Task (IGT), OCD, using meta-analytic approach. According PRISMA Guidelines, selected 26 studies for systematic and, amongst them, 16 were included meta-analysis, comprising total of 846 OCD 763 healthy controls (HC). Our results that perform significantly lower than HC at IGT, pointing towards direction impairment. particular, this deficit seems emerge mainly three blocks IGT. IGT scores age 18 still HC. Finally, no difference emerged between medicated unmedicated patients, they both scored compared conclusion, our are line with hypothesis according which impairment might represent potential endophenotype lying clinical manifestation its neurobiological aetiology.