Specific and general cognitive predictors of Sexual Orientation-Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Sexual Orientation-Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (SO-OCD) is yet understudied in the literature. The current study was prompted to test the role of specific and general beliefs potentially involved in the genesis and maintenance of SO-OCD. As such, 263 patients with SO-OCD, 42 patients with OCD (NSO-OCD) and 116 non-clinical participants (NCP) were administered the Sexual Orientation-Obsessive Beliefs Scale (SO-OBS), which was designed to evaluate specific beliefs hypothesized to relate to SO-OCD, together with other measures assessing SO-OCD symptoms, general obsessive beliefs, depression and anxiety. The final SO-OBS consisted of 12 items and showed a four-factor structure and a very good internal consistency. Regression analysis and multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) highlighted the significant role of beliefs regarding the negative impact of homosexuality on one's identity and beliefs about the meaning of sexual problems in heterosexual intercourse as well as a more marginal role of black/white beliefs regarding what it is “right” to feel in heterosexual sexuality. There were no significant differences between SO-OCD and NSO-OCD patients on homophobic beliefs. Despite some limitations of the study, including the limitation to heterosexual individuals with SO-OCD, the identification of these specific cognitive factors has important implications for the prevention and treatment of SO-OCD.