Paranormal Beliefs in Obsessive Compulsive Disorder And Healthy Population

Abstract

-Obsessive Compulsive disorder is generally characterized by repeated, intrusive and unwanted thoughts, impulses and pictures, usually related to compulsive behaviors that are repetitive, time intense and sometimes ritualized. It has been found that the repeated thoughts/doubts, aggressive and horrific impulses and also the compulsive repetitive behavior are directly or positively related to paranormal beliefs and magical ideation. Due to the cultural/religious factors of specific area or society, these paranormal beliefs and magical ideation sometimes acts as maintaining factors for Obsessive Compulsive disorder. Patients also relate OCD severity with superstition and witchcraft. Therefore this area needs to be explored by understanding the various factors affecting OCD patients. Objective- of the present study is to assess the phenomena of paranormal beliefs difference between patient with obsessive compulsive disorder and healthy control. Matrial and Method-In the present study all the participants were selected on the basis of the socio-demographic variables which were finalized in the beginning of the research. Some participants were from rural area, some were from urban area. The education levels of participants were 5th standard to post graduation and some were employed. Both male and female participants were participated in the present study. Conclusion-The present study found that the mean of RPBS is higher in OCD (90.54±15.75) than the healthy control (69.14±12.84). The RPBS scale and YBOCS scale used for the analysis showed effect that individuals with traditional religious beliefs, Psi, witchcraft, spiritualism have higher tendency to develop OCD symptoms. Traditional religious belief domain mean is higher in OCD (17.88±5.24) than the healthy control group (14.48±4.57), the mean of Psi domain is higher in OCD (12.5400 ± 5.54834) than the healthy control population (9.18± 4.55), in the witchcraft domain, OCD patients has higher mean (14.80±6.27than healthy control group (8.34 ±3.94).