Religion, Ethnicity and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Abstract

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is seen in many contrasting cultures but it is not known if the form of the disorder varies between these cultures. There have been anecdotal case reports where religion appeared to play a significant aetiological role in the disorder but the relationship between religion and OCD has not previously been systematically studied. This study was a retrospective, casenote study comparing the country of birth and religious affiliation of three groups of 50 patients. Its aim was to investigate the aetiological role played by religion in the development of OCD. The groups were patients with OCD from a specialist behavioural-cognitive unit, patients assessed in a specialist psycho-dynamic psychotherapy department and patients attending a general adult psychiatry outpatient department. More patients with OCD affiliated themselves with a religion as opposed to either of the other two groups. This difference disappeared when the type of religion was taken into account so that no conclusive relationship between OCD and religion could be identified. The findings do not diminish the importance of religion in the development of OCD in some individuals and suggest that future research in this area should include examination of the rigidity of upbringing and personal perception of the experience of strict rules or imposed religious practices.

Influence of religious aspects and personal beliefs on psychological behavior: focus on anxiety disorders

“…The form and variety of anxiety symptoms related to religious themes is, thus, sometimes associated with certain cultures/religions 119. This does not, however, indicate one religion as being more pathological than others, but rather the religious symptoms as being an inseparable part of the specific culture and, thus, not pathological 120,121. Studies in different religious contexts indicate similar results with respect to mental health 121.…”

Clinical Implications of Research on Religion, Spirituality, and Mental Health

“…33,36 Religiously motivated behaviours that increase self-focus and worry are associated with intrusive thoughts, thought control and undoing, and poorer mental health. 37,38 Understanding the role of RS in coping with mental health issues is also a significant field of psychological study. As a leader in this field, Pargament 39 has developed positive and negative religious coping measures that reflect various coping styles, such as self-directing, collaborative, deferring, and surrender.…”

Belief in Life After Death and Mental Health

“…A review of the older literature suggested rigid religions may predispose an individual to obsessive-compulsive disorder (Fitz, 1990), but the results of recent studies are mixed (Abramowitz et al, 2004;Raphael et al, 1996;Sica et al, 2002;Tek and Ulug, 2001). An extensive literature review identified only three studies on religion and somatization.…”