Department of Psychology, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY 13902-6000, USA.
Depress Anxiety. 2013 Aug;30(8):778-85. doi: 10.1002/da.22080. Epub 2013 May 3.
Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is a disabling condition associated with significant personal and societal burdens. Despite the availability of efficacious treatments, in most cases, the disorder remains unrecognized and untreated. Lack of knowledge (i.e. poor mental health literacy, MHL) regarding OCD may be an impediment to seeking treatment. Therefore, the current study assessed public knowledge and beliefs about OCD and examined factors influencing MHL.
Five hundred seventy-seven US adults participated in a telephone survey. After hearing a vignette describing someone with OCD, participants' MHL for OCD was assessed across three domains as follows: recognition of OCD, knowledge and beliefs about available help, and concerns about being negatively evaluated for reporting symptoms.
The majority of participants (90.9%) reported that the symptoms were a cause for concern and that the person in the vignette should seek professional help (89.5%). However, only one-third of respondents correctly labeled the disorder as OCD. More respondents were optimistic about the likely success of psychotherapy than medication, but primary care physicians were the most frequently reported source of professional help. Finally, less education, lower income, and being in an older cohort were associated with poorer recognition of OCD.
When presented with brief vignettes describing a person with OCD, most community members can recognize the benefits of seeking professional help. However, recognition of the disorder and knowledge of treatment options can be improved.
强迫症（OCD）是一种使人丧失能力的疾病，与个人和社会的巨大负担有关。尽管有有效的治疗方法，但在大多数情况下，这种疾病仍未被发现和治疗。缺乏对强迫症的了解（即心理健康素养低，MHL）可能是寻求治疗的障碍。因此，本研究评估了公众对强迫症的知识和信念，并研究了影响 MHL 的因素。
577 名美国成年人参加了电话调查。在听到描述一个患有强迫症的人的小插曲后，参与者对强迫症的 MHL 在三个领域进行了评估：识别强迫症、了解和相信可用的帮助，以及对报告症状的负面评价的担忧。
大多数参与者（90.9%）表示症状令人担忧，剧中人应寻求专业帮助（89.5%）。然而，只有三分之一的受访者正确地将该疾病标记为强迫症。更多的受访者对心理治疗的成功持乐观态度，而不是药物治疗，但初级保健医生是最常报告的专业帮助来源。最后，教育程度较低、收入较低和年龄较大的人对强迫症的认识较差。
当呈现描述强迫症患者的简短小插曲时，大多数社区成员可以认识到寻求专业帮助的好处。然而，对疾病的认识和治疗选择的了解可以得到改善。
