Assessment of “Incompleteness” and “Not-just-right Experiences” in Patients of Obsessive-compulsive Disorders: A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract Introduction: Subjects suffering from obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) often experience distress when they have sensations that do not give satisfaction, leading them to perform actions to eliminate them. These sensations, commonly referred to as not-just-right experiences (NJREs), significantly disrupt the daily functioning of individuals with OCD. This study explores the intricate relationship between feelings of incompleteness and the occurrence of NJREs in patients diagnosed with OCD. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among patients diagnosed with OCD according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual-5. Severity was measured using the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale. They were then assessed for NJREs using ‘‘not just right experiences-questionnaire- revised’’ (NJRE-Q-R). Depression was assessed using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) questionnaire. The statistical analysis of study data was done, and the analysis of variance test was utilized to assess the correlation of the severity of OCD and depression with NJREs. Results: The mean NJRE score (21.5) was statistically significantly higher in severe OCD. Patients with severe symptoms of OCD also experienced NJREs that were severe in intensity and associated with immediate and delayed distress. Furthermore, a positive correlation between NJREs and HAM-D scores was found suggesting evidence of depressive features in patients suffering from NJREs. Conclusion: OCD symptoms are significantly associated with NJREs. Our study indicates the need for screening of NJREs not only in patients suffering from OCD but also among those having depression. This would further help in the development of specialized intervention techniques to prevent the progress of obsessive-compulsive symptoms and its associated comorbidities.