Treatment Barriers and Modality Preferences Among Individuals With Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders

Facing numerous barriers to care, most individuals experiencing symptoms of obsessive-compulsive and related disorders do not receive evidence-based treatment. While much existing literature has identified barriers to mental health treatment broadly, little empirical work has assessed barriers specifically within a sample of individuals with obsessive-compulsive and related disorders, whose identified barriers and treatment preferences may differ from other clinical samples. In particular, this information is lacking for pediatric samples.

The current study examined treatment barriers and modality preferences among individuals (N = 216; 48 adults and 168 parents of youth) receiving telehealth-based treatment for obsessive-compulsive and related disorders.

Participants endorsed an array of barriers to treatment, including barriers to both in-person and telehealth treatment modalities. Time and distance to in-person treatment were the most influential barriers associated with a preference for telehealth treatment, while difficulty building rapport with the clinician via telehealth and telehealth feeling impersonal were the most influential barriers associated with a preference for in-person treatment. Participants who indicated that clinician expertise was important in their decision-making were more likely to prefer in-person treatment, while participants who indicated that cost of treatment was important in their decision-making were more likely to prefer telehealth treatment.

Findings can inform future efforts to increase the accessibility and uptake of evidence-based interventions for obsessive-compulsive and related disorders.