Year: 2019
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Objectives : To study about the factors associated with treatment-seeking among theobsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) patientsMethods : A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in 87 OCD patients aged 18-80 yearsin the outpatient clinic, Department of Psychiatry, Ramathibodi Hospital from July 2017-June 2018.Participants were divided into 2 groups, which were early treatment-seeking and delayed treatmentseekinggroup. The questionnaire consisted of demographic characteristics, Thai self-report versionof the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale-Second Edition, Interview on help-seeking(Thai version). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and chi-square test.Results : Total of 87 patients, 62.1% were the delayed treatment-seeking group and 37.9% were the earlytreatment-seeking group. In the delayed group, the mean length of delay in seeking treatment was9.52±7.483 years. There were no difference in socioeconomic status, comorbidity and severity of thedisorder between both groups, but the patients with less income 30,000/month were likely to bedelayed their treatment-seeking (P =0.023). Both groups recognized the problem when they realizedthat their behaviors changed, they couldn’t control their behavior/thoughts and symptoms interferedmore in their daily activities. Regards to factors which delayed the treatment-seeking, both groupsmostly reported the belief that the problem was not serious, thoughts that they could control the problemand the belief that problem was temporary. Factors that affected the treatment-seeking were theproblem became more and more disturbing, the problem was not extinguished and couldnot becontrolled, and the problem interfered daily activities. Moreover, the early treatment-seeking grouphad higher income, reported more belief that the problem was temporary and more fear aboutwhat would be happening to them than the other group.Conclusion : Factors influencing the decision-making of patients were the realization that their behaviorshave changed, the symptoms were uncontrollable and disruptive to life. Factors that delayed treatmentwere thinking about a problem that it was not serious, controllable and temporary. Therefore, raisingawareness of the problem and improving knowledge about the obsessive-compulsive disorder willhelp patients to access the treatment more quickly, have better outcomes and quality of life.
Institutions: Mahidol University, Ramathibodi Hospital
Language: English
Subfield: Clinical Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W7218303276