IMPLICIT AND EXPLICIT MEMORY IN OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE DISORDER

We examined implicit and explicit memory in obsessive-compulsive disor der (OCD) patients and in non-patients. Implicit memory was measured b y the effect of prior presentation on ratings of noise volume. Explici t memory was examined via a recognition task. We also investigated par ticipants' confidence in the accuracy of their recognition. OCD patien ts rated noise accompanying contamination and neutral sentences as lou der than did non-patients. Both groups rated noise accompanying contam ination sentences as louder than noise accompanying neutral sentences. Also, both groups were less confident in their recognition of new con tamination sentences compared to new neutral sentences, bur this diffe rence was less pronounced in the OCD group. The findings are discussed in light of previous research on memory in anxiety disordered individ uals. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.