High rates of OCD symptom misidentification by mental health professionals.
BACKGROUND
More than a decade may pass between the onset of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) symptoms and initiation of treatment. One explanation may be health care professionals' limited awareness of OCD symptom presentations. We assessed mental health care providers' ability to identify taboo thoughts as manifestations of OCD.


METHODS
A random sample of 2,550 American Psychological Association members were asked to give diagnostic impressions based on 1 of 5 OCD vignettes: 4 about taboo thoughts and 1 about contamination obsessions.


RESULTS
Three-hundred sixty (14.1%) providers completed the survey. The overall misidentification rate across all vignettes was 38.9%. Rates of incorrect (non-OCD) responses were significantly higher for the taboo thoughts vignettes (obsessions about homosexuality, 77.0%; sexual obsessions about children, 42.9%; aggressive obsessions, 31.5%; and religious obsessions, 28.8%) vs the contamination obsessions vignette (15.8%).


CONCLUSIONS
Mental health professionals commonly misidentify OCD symptom presentations, particularly sexual obsessions, highlighting a need for education and training.
Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology, Yeshiva University, 1165 Morris Park Ave., Bronx, NY 10461, USA. kimberlyglazier@gmail.com
Kimberly
K
Glazier
Rachelle M
RM
Calixte
Rachel
R
Rothschild
Anthony
A
Pinto
D000328:Adult; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003951:Diagnostic Errors / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009770:Obsessive Behavior / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D009771:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D011584:Psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*