Hughes Finn, Kinderman Peter
The University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.
Behav Cogn Psychother. 2023 May;51(3):246-258. doi: 10.1017/S1352465822000637. Epub 2023 Jan 12.
The diagnosis of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is characterised by intrusive thoughts leading to compulsions to alleviate anxiety. However, research is lacking on impact post-diagnosis. Some research suggests diagnosis may benefit treatment access, but potentially leads to higher levels of stigma and altered self-identity.
The present study assessed the utility (treatment access and problem identification) and impact (stigma, personal wellbeing or social identity) of receiving a diagnosis of OCD.
Semi-structured interviews with 12 individuals who had received a diagnosis of OCD were conducted between February and April 2020, then transcribed and analysed using theoretical thematic analysis.
Participants reported positive impacts of diagnosis on both 'utility' and 'impact'.
The diagnosis of OCD was helpful for participants in making their symptoms tangible, providing relief and hope for recovery. Non-diagnostic or alternative frameworks should aim to meet this need. Future research may wish to identify how this understanding of disorders vary between different diagnoses, especially in terms of stigma and personal wellbeing.
强迫症（OCD）的诊断特征是侵入性思维导致通过强迫行为来缓解焦虑。然而，关于诊断后的影响的研究却很缺乏。一些研究表明，诊断可能有助于获得治疗，但也可能导致更高程度的污名化和自我认同的改变。
本研究评估了被诊断为强迫症的效用（获得治疗和问题识别）和影响（污名化、个人幸福感或社会认同）。
在2020年2月至4月期间，对12名被诊断为强迫症的个体进行了半结构化访谈，然后进行转录，并使用理论主题分析进行分析。
参与者报告了诊断对“效用”和“影响”两方面的积极影响。
强迫症的诊断有助于参与者使他们的症状变得具体可感，为康复带来缓解和希望。非诊断性或替代性框架应旨在满足这一需求。未来的研究可能希望确定这种对疾病的理解在不同诊断之间是如何变化的，特别是在污名化和个人幸福感方面。
