Al Solaim and Leowenthal 2011

Question 1

aim

Answer 1

Analysing how religion shapes OCD symptoms (Muslim and Hindu) in a tight culture (strict)

Question 2

sample

Answer 2

15 14-30y/o saudi arabian women who have been diagnosed with OCD and exhibiting symptoms of OCD before they were 21

Question 3

prodedure

Answer 3

Semi structured interview, 60-90 mins

The interviewers asked questions about the extent and duration of the symptoms they have been experiencing, and how the symptoms were affected by their religions

Written records were made, due to cultural sensitivities video and audio recordings were deemed as inappropriate

The researchers performed thematic analysis () in order to identify themes within the results

Question 4

results

Answer 4

Most participants deemed the evil eye as the cause of their symptoms

Ruminations about god (Allah) were rarely reported, however, compulsions related to prayers and absolution were common- the researchers believe it was so because overt worship is a great part of the Islamic faith

Prayer and fasting were reported as crucial coping mechanisms

All participants gained esteem from being “good muslims” and recognised the difference between obsessional traits and religious adherence

Participants expressed a sense of responsibility for a lack of religious observance, by family members - this worsened their symptoms, however when they stopped advising family members their symptoms eased (adding further cross cultural support for Salkovskis theory)

Question 5

strength

Answer 5

High in credibility (the research was made through interviews with practitioners and through the examination of their medical records)

Question 6

weaknesses

Answer 6

Suffered from interviewer effects- interviewer did not cover her face despite adhering to traditional Saudi dress in other respects; interviewees’ attitudes towards her would have been affected by this and it is likely to have affected how they answered her questions

Low generalisability (the sample was constructed solely of females, therefore the results cannot be applied to males; gender segregation is widespread in Saudi Arabia, men pray communally at home, whereas women are supposed to pray at home, which results in the relationships with religious practices and OCD symptoms deviating, making it not transferable)

Participants were recruited through psychiatric clinics- although they all had initially turned to faith healers, they all ended up receiving support from medical services as well; the outcomes may have been different for people who were more opposed to Western medicine.