Lifestyle habits and use of general medical services among individuals with obsessive-compulsive disorder – A qualitative study

Although obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is strongly associated with a range of modifiable somatic health problems, little is known about how the disorder influences the adoption and maintenance of healthy lifestyle habits, as well as how it shapes patients' experiences of seeking and receiving general healthcare. Sixteen individuals with OCD and cardiometabolic risk who participated in the piloting of a lifestyle intervention completed a semi-structured interview about the impact of OCD on their lifestyle habits and their experiences with general medical services. The interviews were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. The analysis generated three main themes and one overarching theme. The main themes were: (1) Living with multiple barriers to engage in healthy behaviours; (2) Changes in lifestyle habits – challenging but possible; and (3) OCD is a roadblock in general medical care. The overarching theme was: (4) It is not just OCD. The themes reflected that the participants experienced both disorder-specific and general barriers when trying to implement healthy lifestyle behaviours. Changing lifestyle habits was regarded as difficult, but facilitators of change were also identified. Participants reported that OCD affected seeking and receiving healthcare for their somatic problems. OCD was generally viewed as only one of many elements that affected health and lifestyle. Our results indicate the need for tailored support for this at-risk group to change and maintain healthy lifestyles, as well as a need of increasing knowledge of OCD among general medical care practitioners. Not applicable. Not applicable.