Exploring the role of external criticism in Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: A narrative review

►The concept of external criticism has been associated with different aspects of Obsessive Compulsive phenomena. ►This review collates the existing findings ranging from theoretical discussions, to clinical case evidence to empirical investigations and maps these onto the cognitive framework for OCD to provide a better understanding of the potential role of criticism in OCD. ►The findings propose criticism potentially plays a role in OCD as a vulnerability factor, but also as a perpetuating factor.