Current Misconceptions of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Among Chinese Adolescents: Causes and Implications
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.54097/w5d78t62Keywords:
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Adolescents, Mental Health Literacy, Anxiety, Symptom AwarenessAbstract
This study aims to examine the current misunderstanding of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) among adolescents using both quantitative data (questionnaire) and qualitative data (interview). OCD is a complex mental health condition, and understanding among adolescents is often limited, which may influence early recognition, help-seeking behaviour, and effective management of the disorder. This research observes three main aspects of misunderstandings: the general belief that OCD is an anxiety disorder, the perception that psychotherapy is more important than pharmacotherapy, rather than equally important, and the belief that the age of OCD prevalence is between 13 and 30. These misconceptions can result in delayed treatment and inadequate support for affected individuals. Alongside the finding that social media is the most common source of information from which participants collect misinformation, the study highlights the role of digital platforms in shaping adolescents’ perceptions. This indicates a need for improved mental health literacy and accurate educational interventions targeted at young people.
Downloads
References
[1] Piacentini, J., Bergman, R. Lindsey., Jacobs, C., McCracken, J. T., & Kretchman, J. (2002). Open trial of cognitive behavior therapy for childhood obsessive–compulsive disorder. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 16(2), 207–219. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0887-6185(02)00096-8.
[2] Mayo, C. (2023). Obsessive-Compulsive disorder (OCD). Mayo Clinic. https://www. mayoclinic. org/ diseases-conditions/obsessive-compulsive-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20354432.
[3] American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5(5). https://doi.org/ 10.1176/ appi. books. 97808 90425596.
[4] Perez, M. I., Limon, D. L., Candelari, A. E., Cepeda, S. L., Ramirez, A. C., Guzick, A. G., Kook, M., La Buissonniere Ariza, V., Schneider, S. C., Goodman, W. K., & Storch, E. A. (2022). Obsessive-compulsive disorder misdiagnosis among mental healthcare providers in Latin America. Journal of Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders, 32(100693), 100693. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jocrd.2021.100693.
[5] Stahnke, B. (2021). A systematic review of misdiagnosis in those with obsessive-compulsive disorder. Journal of Affective Disorders Reports, 6(1), 100231. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadr.2021.100231.
[6] Altweck, L., Marshall, T. C., Ferenczi, N., & Lefringhausen, K. (2015). Mental health literacy: a cross-cultural approach to knowledge and beliefs about depression, schizophrenia and generalized anxiety disorder. Frontiers in Psychology, 6(1272). https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01272.
[7] Wang, A., Jia, S., Shi, Z., Sun, X., Yi, Z., Shen, M., Tang, D., & Chen, X.-Z. (2023a). Mental health literacy of Chinese nurses from public general and psychiatric hospitals: a cross-sectional study. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 14. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1148380.
[8] Whitehouse, W. G., Orne, E. C., & Dinges, D. F. (2002). Demand characteristics: Toward an understanding of their meaning and application in clinical practice. Prevention & Treatment, 5(1). https:// doi. org/10.1037//1522-3736.5.1.534i.
[9] Bartz, J. A., & Hollander, E. (2006). Is obsessive–compulsive disorder an anxiety disorder? Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry, 30(3), 338–352. https://doi.org/10.1016/j. pnpbp. 2005.11.003.
[10] Radua, J., van den Heuvel, O. A., Surguladze, S., & Mataix-Cols, D. (2010). Meta-analytical Comparison of Voxel-Based Morphometry Studies in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder vs Other Anxiety Disorders. Archives of General Psychiatry, 67(7). https://doi.org/10.1001/archgenpsychiatry.2010.70.
[11] Mathes, B. M., Morabito, D. M., & Schmidt, N. B. (2019). Epidemiological and Clinical Gender Differences in OCD. Current Psychiatry Reports, 21(5), 36. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-019-1015-2.
[12] Swierkosz-Lenart, K., Dos Santos, J. F. A., Elowe, J., Clair, A.-H., Bally, J. F., Riquier, F., Bloch, J., Draganski, B., Clerc, M.-T., Pozuelo Moyano, B., von Gunten, A., & Mallet, L. (2023). Therapies for obsessive-compulsive disorder: Current state of the art and perspectives for approaching treatment-resistant patients. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 14(1). https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1065812.
[13] Cherry, K. (2024). What Is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)? Verywell Mind. https://www. verywellmind. com/what-is-cognitive-behavior-therapy-2795747.
[14] Hyman, B. M., & Pedrick, C. (2010). The OCD workbook: your guide to breaking free from obsessive-compulsive disorder. New Harbinger Publications.
[15] Sassano-Higgins, S. A., Sapp, F., & Van Noppen, B. (2015). Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. FOCUS, 13(2), 148–161. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.focus.130207.
[16] Öst, L.-G., Havnen, A., Hansen, B., & Kvale, G. (2015). Cognitive behavioral treatments of obsessive–compulsive disorder. A systematic review and meta-analysis of studies published 1993–2014. Clinical Psychology Review, 40(40), 156–169. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2015.06.003.
[17] Starvaggi, I., Dierckman, C., & Lorenzo-Luaces, L. (2023). Mental health misinformation on social media: Review and future directions. Current Opinion in Psychology, 56(1), 101738. https://doi.org/10. 1016/j. copsyc. 2023.101738.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Journal of Education and Educational Research
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
