From primetime to paradise: the lived experience of OCD in Hawaii

Abstract

The primary aim of this qualitative study was to describe the lived experiences of men and women in Hawaii who were diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder, and in so doing to provide an avenue for exploring health disparities involving this illness. Ten in-depth interviews revealed distinguishable similarities and differences in experiences of obsessive-compulsive disorder and suggested ways of understanding these similarities and differences. This research emphasized that in order to address disparities between the diagnosis and treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder, as compared to other neurobiological disorders, we must meet the critical need for education about this illness among clients, families, and clinicians.