Aim and Background: The purpose of this study was to compare executive function and sustained attention in students with obsessive–compulsive, high schizotypal and overlapping symptoms and a control group. Methods and Materials: The present study assessed undergraduate students of Tabriz University by ex post facto method. Randomized multi-stage cluster sampling was used to select 1570 students. The subjects completed Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire and the Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory-Revised. Then, during the screening phase, 140 students (in groups of 35) were selected. They completed Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, Continuous Performance Test and Stroop color-word test. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and ANOVA test. Findings: The results of this study showed a significant difference in executive function and sustained attention between high schizotypy and overlapping groups and the control group (P < 0.05). Except for commission errors in CPT, other differences observed between obsessive-compulsive and control groups in executive function and sustained attention except were insignificant (P > 0.05). Conclusions: The difference between the overlapping group and obsessive-compulsive and high schizotypy groups in terms of executive function and sustained attention pattern may indicate the unique clinical characteristics of the overlapping group.
