Illness perception, help-seeking attitudes, and knowledge related to obsessive–compulsive disorder across different ethnic groups: a community survey

• Published in: Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology Vol. 51; no. 3; pp. 455 - 464
• Main Authors: Fernández de la Cruz, Lorena, Kolvenbach, Sarah, Vidal-Ribas, Pablo, Jassi, Amita, Llorens, Marta, Patel, Natasha, Weinman, John, Hatch, Stephani L., Bhugra, Dinesh, Mataix-Cols, David
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01.03.2016; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adult; African Continental Ancestry Group - psychology; African Continental Ancestry Group - statistics & numerical data; Care and treatment; Caribbean Region - ethnology; Epidemiology; European Continental Ancestry Group - psychology; European Continental Ancestry Group - statistics & numerical data; Female; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice - ethnology; Humans; London; Male; Medicin och hälsovetenskap; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Middle Aged; Minorities; Minority Groups - psychology; Minority Groups - statistics & numerical data; Obsessive compulsive disorder; Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder - ethnology; Original Paper; Patient Acceptance of Health Care - ethnology; Psychiatry; Social aspects; Surveys; Surveys and Questionnaires; Young Adult; Obsessive–compulsive disorder; Ethnic minorities; Parental beliefs; Help-seeking; Health disparities
• ISSN: 0933-7954; 1433-9285; 1433-9285
• DOI: 10.1007/s00127-015-1144-9

Purpose Despite similar prevalence rates across ethnicities, ethnic minorities with obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) are under-represented in research and clinical settings. The reasons for this disproportion have been sparsely studied. We explored potential differences in illness perception, help-seeking attitudes, illness knowledge, and causal attributions that could help explain the lower uptake of treatment for OCD amongst ethnic minorities. Methods Two-hundred and ninety-three parents (139 White British, 61 Black African, 46 Black Caribbean, and 47 Indian) were recruited from the general population in South-East London, UK. Using a text vignette methodology, participants completed a survey including questions on illness perception, help-seeking attitudes, OCD knowledge, and causal attributions. Results The groups did not differ in socio-demographic characteristics and family history of OCD. White British parents perceived that the OCD difficulties would have more negative impact on their children and that treatment would be more helpful, compared to the ethnic minorities; the largest differences were observed between White British and Indian parents. Ethnic minorities were more prone to say that would seek help from their religious communities. Black African parents were more in favor of not seeking help for the described difficulties and, in general, perceived more treatment barriers. White British parents seemed to be better informed about OCD than ethnic minority parents. Conclusions The results offer some plausible explanations for the large inequalities in access to services amongst ethnic minorities with OCD. Clinicians and policy-makers need to be aware of these socio-cultural factors when designing strategies to encourage help-seeking behaviors in these populations.