Document Type

Paper

Publication Date

4-23-2025

Faculty Mentor

Mora Reinka

Abstract

Obsession Compulsion Disorder (OCD) is characterized as a disorder with persistent unwanted thoughts and repetitive behaviors that sooth these unwanted thoughts. Research has found that OCD, as a mental illness, is considered a concealable stigmatized identity (CSI), an identity that is hidden from others but still carries the burden of stigma. The goal of this review is to explore the negative consequences of stigmatization and its effect on health outcomes for people with OCD. A literature review was conducted using key words, “OCD”, “Stigmatization”, “Shame”, and “Treatment”. Health outcomes include both mental and physical. Our review found that OCD and its stigmatization leads to poor health outcomes, as well as the avoidance of treatment, and in some cases, strong suicidal ideations. Some studies also report adverse treatment from clinicians, which also factor into this stigmatization and causes further harm. This shows that patients with OCD have adverse health outcomes, and that stigma has a hand in this. Our findings indicate that more research needs to be done on how to mitigate the factors of this stigmatization. Some emerging research reports the use of an application as a way to alleviate the burden of stigmatization, but more work is needed.

Comments

Presented as part of the Ursinus College Celebration of Student Achievement (CoSA) held April 23, 2025.

The downloadable file is a poster.

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