. 2024 Dec 18;18:160. doi: 10.1186/s13034-024-00851-8

Table 1.

Qualitative research exploring the barriers and facilitators to recovery in OCD

Authors & Place	Phenomenon	Sample	Method	Key findings
1. Robinson, Rose and Salkovskis [14], (UK)	Enablers & barriers	n = 17	Thematic analysis	Barriers were stigma; ‘internal/cognitive’ factors (not knowing what their problem was); factors related to treatment or general practitioner; and fear of criminalisation. Positive enablers were support to seek help; information and personal accounts of OCD in the media; and confidence in general practitioner. Negative enablers identified were crisis point; for some it was feeling driven to seek treatment because of the nature of content of the thoughts, i.e. seeking help to prevent the ‘harm’ they feared they were capable of doing (whose intrusive thoughts were about harming children).
2. Pedley et al., [15](UK)	Family members’ perceptions	n = 14 (dyads); 16 years or older	Thematic analysis	Main themes—OCD viewed as arising from non-modifiable endogenous factors (personal characteristics); lack of distinction between behaviours performed for happiness and problematic behaviours; OCD on continuum with sub-clinical symptoms; labelling of subclinical symptoms by public led to frustration of families; and pessimism regarding recovery.

Authors & Place

Phenomenon

Sample

Method

Key findings

1. Robinson, Rose and Salkovskis [14], (UK)

Enablers & barriers

n = 17

Thematic analysis

Barriers were stigma; ‘internal/cognitive’ factors (not knowing what their problem was); factors related to treatment or general practitioner; and fear of criminalisation.

Positive enablers were support to seek help; information and personal accounts of OCD in the media; and confidence in general practitioner.

Negative enablers identified were crisis point; for some it was feeling driven to seek treatment because of the nature of content of the thoughts, i.e. seeking help to prevent the ‘harm’ they feared they were capable of doing (whose intrusive thoughts were about harming children).

2. Pedley et al., [15](UK)

Family members’ perceptions

n = 14 (dyads); 16 years or older

Thematic analysis

Main themes—OCD viewed as arising from non-modifiable endogenous factors (personal characteristics); lack of distinction between behaviours performed for happiness and problematic behaviours; OCD on continuum with sub-clinical symptoms; labelling of subclinical symptoms by public led to frustration of families; and pessimism regarding recovery.