The Lived Experience of Iranian Older Adults Suffering From Obsessive-compulsive Disorder

Objectives Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a chronic condition with recurrent and persistent nature and can affect the functioning of affected people regardless of age. This study aims to explore the lived experience of older adults with OCD in Iran. Methods & Materials This is a qualitative and phenomenological study. From among the older adults with OCD (A score >23 in the Yale-Brown Obsessive–Compulsive scale) referring to counseling centers in Isfahan city, 10 people were selected using a purposive sampling method and after reaching data saturation in 60-minute semi-structured interviews. The interviews were recorded and transcribed. The themes and sub-themes were extracted using Colaizzi’s method. Results We extracted four main themes and 11 sub-themes, including fluctuating self-esteem (self-deprecation, helplessness, being wronged in life, waste of life, and social stigma of OCD), dysfunctional attitudes (normalizing obsessions, and superstitious thinking), relational dissatisfaction (problematic interactions with spouse and troublesome social interactions), and lack of self-compassion (emotional distress, neglect of physical care, and fruitless struggles). Conclusion Iranian older adults with OCD experience many limitations; they have less family and marital support, suffer from the social stigma, experience high emotional distress, and are not compassionate to themselves. More studies are recommended in this field in order to reduce the psychological burden of older adults with OCD.