Chapter 20 - Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Cognitions Across Cultures

Abstract

This chapter reviews cross-cultural research on obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) symptoms and cognitions and present cross-cultural data about cognitive phenomena in OCD. Several epidemiological researches disclose differences in OCD prevalence across cultures, and such differences might be considered possible clues regarding cultural influences on this form of psychopathology. Epidemiological research also inquired into the demographic variables associated with OCD. OCD in adults appears to have an equal gender distribution, although differences have been reported in some symptom categories, such as contamination/washing which may be more prevalent in women. Obsessive compulsive patients are less likely to be married than age matched controls. Lastly, there is conflicting evidence about the role of intelligence, social class, and birth order. Culture provides the categories, explanatory frames, and idioms for responding to physiological symptoms and also plays a significant role in structuring pathologies of cognitions themselves. Thus, culture may differently shape beliefs or core cognitive schemas thought to be etiologically relevant to OCD.