Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) help-seeking influences and the relationship between distress tolerance, mindfulness, self compassion and OCD

Background: Research and reviews have often overlooked the qualitative findings regarding potential influences on help-seeking for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

Method: A systematic literature search of seven databases was conducted, resulting in 1029 papers. Fourteen qualitative papers and one mixed methods paper focused on the perspectives and experiences of people living with OCD and their relatives were extracted for thematic synthesis. The quality of studies was assessed using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) framework.

Results: Thematic synthesis resulted in five themes, including ten subthemes: understanding and recognition of OCD, deciding if help is needed, stigma associated with disclosure, and searching for appropriate intervention and support outside professional networks. The findings give a lived experience voice to existing findings from quantitative reviews.

Conclusions: Whether people sought and engaged with help was influenced by individual,social, public health systems, and wider societal influences. The interconnected nature of these
influences needs to be considered in clinical and research implications. Limitations of the review include transferability due to the predominantly White-Eurocentric focus of participants contributing to included studies and limited explicit focus on the topics of seeking and engaging
with help.