The Role of Gender and Culture in Shaping the Experience of Sexual Obsessions in Women with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: A Case Series

The experiences associated with having sexual obsessions in Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is particularly under-reported and consequently under-researched especially in women hailing from conservative, rural backgrounds.This paper presents a unique case series of three women diagnosed with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) according to the ICD-11 DCR with predominance of sexual obsessions from rural origin of Odisha, India.The symptomatology and experiences are shaped by their age, gender, cultural norms and other sociodemographic variables.Religious rituals and avoidance behaviours which are used to alleviate distress, further perpetuates the obsessive-compulsive cycle.The underlying feelings of shame and guilt prevents seeking of professional help and support.The findings highlight the necessity of creating interventions that are culturally relevant and merge different evidence-based treatments with comprehension of local dynamics.Enhancing mental health literacy and reduction of stigma is imperative to improve care and treatment outcomes in women with sexual obsessions.