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Protocol for Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation with Symptom Provocation to Treat Obsessive-compulsive Disorder
Published on: November 25, 2025
Obsessive-Compulsive Training Experiences in United States (US) Medical School Education Programs.
Carlos Valenzuela-Flores1, Leanne Maduka1, Dale Shepherd1
1Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
Summary
Medical schools show gaps in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) training, potentially delaying diagnosis. Enhancing OCD education in osteopathic and allopathic curricula is crucial for better patient care.
Area of Science:
- Medical Education
- Psychiatry
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Physicians frequently encounter patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
- Limited familiarity with diverse OCD presentations can lead to misdiagnosis and treatment delays.
- Standardized training in OCD is essential for effective clinical practice.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the content and structure of OCD-specific training in U.S. osteopathic (D.O.) and allopathic (M.D.) medical schools.
- Identify deficiencies in current medical school curricula regarding OCD education.
- Assess the impact of training gaps on OCD diagnosis and treatment.
Main Methods:
- A survey was distributed to 154 U.S. medical schools.
- 35 schools (28 allopathic, 7 osteopathic) completed the survey (22.73% response rate).
- Data collected included demographics, school information, and details on OCD training content and structure throughout pre-clinical and clinical years.
Main Results:
- Average OCD-specific training was 1.79 hours, with significant variation.
- Few schools offered dedicated OCD faculty, electives, or rotations.
- Training content varied, with "contamination" (91.4%) most common and "responsibility for harm" (48.6%) least common. Ego-dystonia was taught in 75.8% of schools.
Conclusions:
- Current medical school training on OCD is basic and contains significant gaps.
- These educational deficiencies may contribute to diagnostic delays and misdiagnoses.
- Improving OCD training in medical schools is vital for enhancing diagnostic accuracy and patient treatment outcomes.
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