[Help-seeking behavior and pathways to care for patients with obsessive-compulsive disorders]

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Clinical Psychology

Background:

• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a prevalent, chronic mental health condition leading to significant functional impairments.
• Delayed help-seeking behavior in OCD patients contributes to prolonged suffering, with treatment initiation often occurring years after symptom onset.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the help-seeking behaviors and care pathways of individuals diagnosed with OCD.
• To understand the factors contributing to delays in seeking professional treatment for OCD.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a modified version of the structured pathways to care questionnaire.
• Conducted retrospective interviews with 40 outpatients diagnosed with OCD.

Main Results:

• The average delay between OCD symptom onset and first professional contact was 6.5 years; median delay to a third treatment attempt was nearly 15 years.
• Despite presenting with clear OCD symptoms, only 20% received standard cognitive behavioral therapy and SSRI medication.
• Key reasons for delay included disbelief in having a mental illness and fear of stigmatization (reported by 40%).

Conclusions:

• Psychoeducation is essential to address misconceptions about OCD and its treatment.
• Widespread adoption of evidence-based treatments can improve patient engagement and outcomes for OCD.