Table 5 Major studies with which current study findings have been compared
Authors | Phenomenon | Age group | Sample | Method | Key findings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. Bhattacharya & Singh, 2015 (India) | Subjective experiences | 18–25 years | n = 5 | Case study approach & thematic content analysis | Three major categories: ‘Connection vs. Disconnection,’ ‘Feeling of Guilt,’ and ‘Authenticity’ [13] |
2. Brooks, 2011 (USA) | Lived experience | > 35 years | n = 1 | Auto-ethnography | Need for individuals to steer themselves among and between ‘appropriate’ performance and secret rituals; emphasis on ‘importance of image management’ [14] |
3. Keyes, Nolte and Williams, 2018 (UK) | Lived experiences | 13–18 years (mean -15 years 7 months) | n = 10 | Thematic analysis | Four themes: Traumatic and stressful life events; responses to signs of OCD; battle of living with OCD and ambivalent relationship to help; need to address stigma and sense of shame [22] |
4. Kohler, Coetzee and Lochner, 2018 (South Africa) | Subjective experiences | 18 years or older (mean -45.65 years) | n = 20 | Thematic analysis | Three core themes identified—realisation of OCD; disruptions to daily life; and managing the disruptions to daily life [35] |
5. Murphy & Perera-Delcourt, 2014 (UK) | Lived experiences | 22–53 years | n = 9 | IPA | Two major themes: ‘having OCD’ & ‘impact of therapy’ [38] |
6. Olson, Vera & Perez, 2007 (Hawaii) | Lived experiences | 30–62 years | n = 10 | Data analysis by Consensual Qualitative Research | Main themes—Symptoms and meaning, care and treatment, coping and independent living, connectedness [39] |
7. Pedley et al., 2019 (UK) | Illness perceptions | 16 years or older (2 were between 16–24 years and 14 subjects were above 24 years) | n = 16 | Thematic analysis | Recognition of symptoms affected by failure to interpret experiences as ‘symptoms’. Participants tried to decrease its consequences by concealing symptoms [41] |
8. Robinson, Rose and Salkovskis, 2017 (UK) | Enablers and barriers to seeking treatment | 21–57 years (mean -36 years) | n = 17 | Thematic analysis | Barriers -stigma; internal factors (not knowing the problem); treatment-related factors/general practitioner-related factors (GP); & fear of criminalisation. Positive enablers -support to seek help; information regarding OCD in media; confidence in GP. Negative enablers were crisis; feeling driven to seek treatment due to nature of content (thoughts) [45] |