'Autism is the Arena and OCD is the Lion': Autistic adults' experiences of co-occurring obsessive-compulsive disorder and repetitive restricted behaviours and interests.
| Title: | 'Autism is the Arena and OCD is the Lion': Autistic adults' experiences of co-occurring obsessive-compulsive disorder and repetitive restricted behaviours and interests. |
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| Authors: | Long, Hannah1, Cooper, Kate1, Russell, Ailsa1 a.j.russell@bath.ac.uk |
| Source: | Autism: The International Journal of Research & Practice. Nov2024, Vol. 28 Issue 11, p2897-2908. 12p. |
| Subject Terms: | *MENTAL health, *QUALITATIVE research, *RESEARCH funding, *AUTISM, *INTERVIEWING, *DESCRIPTIVE statistics, *ANXIETY, *EMOTIONS, *OBSESSIVE-compulsive disorder, *THEMATIC analysis, *RESEARCH methodology, *ASPERGER'S syndrome, *PATIENTS' attitudes, *PEOPLE with disabilities, *ADULTS |
| Abstract: | Obsessive-compulsive disorder commonly co-occurs with autism. Research characterising the interplay between restricted, repetitive behaviours, activities and interests related to autism and obsessive-compulsive disorder symptoms has used theory-driven, bottom-up methodology. This study aimed to interview autistic adults about the subjective experience of differentiating between these phenomena. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 autistic adults experiencing obsessive-compulsive disorder symptoms and repetitive behaviours, activities and interest. Transcripts were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis from a critical-realist, inductive orientation. Three overarching themes are presented. Participants viewed repetitive behaviours, activities and interest as intrinsic to their identity, while obsessive-compulsive disorder remained ego-dystonic and a perpetuator of anxiety. Conversely, repetitive behaviours, activities and interest was present across various emotions, often serving as a method to manage anxiety. Routinised behaviours and focused interests were considered by participants to be vulnerable to obsessive-compulsive disorder exploitation. Although participants reported masking both phenomena, the methods and motivations to mask differed. This research demonstrates the importance of delineating these experiences, with suggestions offered in how to explore this with autistic clients. Future research could explore narratives of masking obsessive-compulsive disorder across autistic and non-autistic people and investigate simultaneous co-occurrence of obsessive-compulsive disorder and repetitive behaviours, activities and interest; including how focused interests may influence obsessive-compulsive disorder and how repetitive routines may be intensified by obsessive-compulsive disorder. Repetitive behaviours and interests are a hallmark feature of autism. It is very common for autistic people to experience mental health difficulties, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder. Previous research has investigated similarities and differences between obsessive-compulsive disorder symptoms and repetitive behaviours in autism through questionnaires and observation studies. This is the first study to interview autistic adults about their personal experiences of differentiating between obsessive-compulsive disorder symptoms and repetitive behaviours related to autism. We interviewed 15 autistic adults who experience obsessive-compulsive disorder symptoms. We recorded these interviews and carefully analysed these to find themes. We found some differences between repetitive behaviours and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Participants said repetitive behaviours are part of who they are and what they want to be doing, whereas obsessive-compulsive disorder symptoms conflicted with how they view themselves. Obsessive-compulsive disorder was said to cause negative emotions, while participants said they experience lots of different emotions when doing repetitive behaviours. A similarity participants reported was trying to stop themselves from doing obsessive-compulsive disorder symptoms and repetitive behaviours that other people can see. There was also overlap between obsessive-compulsive disorder and repetitive behaviours. Participants talked about experiences when obsessive-compulsive disorder would take over routines and make them feel more intense and negative. Also, participants' special interests were sometimes connected to the obsessions they experienced. We conclude that clinicians can use these findings to support conversations with autistic clients in differentiating between repetitive behaviours and obsessive-compulsive disorder symptoms. We also think that further research investigating how obsessive-compulsive disorder symptoms might be hidden by autistic and typically developing people is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: 'Autism is the Arena and OCD is the Lion': Autistic adults' experiences of co-occurring obsessive-compulsive disorder and repetitive restricted behaviours and interests. – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Long%2C+Hannah%22">Long, Hannah</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Cooper%2C+Kate%22">Cooper, Kate</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Russell%2C+Ailsa%22">Russell, Ailsa</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo><i> a.j.russell@bath.ac.uk</i> – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Autism%3A+The+International+Journal+of+Research+%26+Practice%22">Autism: The International Journal of Research & Practice</searchLink>. 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Research characterising the interplay between restricted, repetitive behaviours, activities and interests related to autism and obsessive-compulsive disorder symptoms has used theory-driven, bottom-up methodology. This study aimed to interview autistic adults about the subjective experience of differentiating between these phenomena. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 autistic adults experiencing obsessive-compulsive disorder symptoms and repetitive behaviours, activities and interest. Transcripts were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis from a critical-realist, inductive orientation. Three overarching themes are presented. Participants viewed repetitive behaviours, activities and interest as intrinsic to their identity, while obsessive-compulsive disorder remained ego-dystonic and a perpetuator of anxiety. Conversely, repetitive behaviours, activities and interest was present across various emotions, often serving as a method to manage anxiety. Routinised behaviours and focused interests were considered by participants to be vulnerable to obsessive-compulsive disorder exploitation. Although participants reported masking both phenomena, the methods and motivations to mask differed. This research demonstrates the importance of delineating these experiences, with suggestions offered in how to explore this with autistic clients. Future research could explore narratives of masking obsessive-compulsive disorder across autistic and non-autistic people and investigate simultaneous co-occurrence of obsessive-compulsive disorder and repetitive behaviours, activities and interest; including how focused interests may influence obsessive-compulsive disorder and how repetitive routines may be intensified by obsessive-compulsive disorder. Repetitive behaviours and interests are a hallmark feature of autism. It is very common for autistic people to experience mental health difficulties, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder. Previous research has investigated similarities and differences between obsessive-compulsive disorder symptoms and repetitive behaviours in autism through questionnaires and observation studies. This is the first study to interview autistic adults about their personal experiences of differentiating between obsessive-compulsive disorder symptoms and repetitive behaviours related to autism. We interviewed 15 autistic adults who experience obsessive-compulsive disorder symptoms. We recorded these interviews and carefully analysed these to find themes. We found some differences between repetitive behaviours and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Participants said repetitive behaviours are part of who they are and what they want to be doing, whereas obsessive-compulsive disorder symptoms conflicted with how they view themselves. Obsessive-compulsive disorder was said to cause negative emotions, while participants said they experience lots of different emotions when doing repetitive behaviours. A similarity participants reported was trying to stop themselves from doing obsessive-compulsive disorder symptoms and repetitive behaviours that other people can see. There was also overlap between obsessive-compulsive disorder and repetitive behaviours. Participants talked about experiences when obsessive-compulsive disorder would take over routines and make them feel more intense and negative. Also, participants' special interests were sometimes connected to the obsessions they experienced. We conclude that clinicians can use these findings to support conversations with autistic clients in differentiating between repetitive behaviours and obsessive-compulsive disorder symptoms. We also think that further research investigating how obsessive-compulsive disorder symptoms might be hidden by autistic and typically developing people is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] – Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright Label: Group: Ab Data: <i>Copyright of Autism: The International Journal of Research & Practice is the property of Sage Publications Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) |
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| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Identifiers: – Type: doi Value: 10.1177/13623613241251512 Languages: – Code: eng Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 12 StartPage: 2897 Subjects: – SubjectFull: MENTAL health Type: general – SubjectFull: QUALITATIVE research Type: general – SubjectFull: RESEARCH funding Type: general – SubjectFull: AUTISM Type: general – SubjectFull: INTERVIEWING Type: general – SubjectFull: DESCRIPTIVE statistics Type: general – SubjectFull: ANXIETY Type: general – SubjectFull: EMOTIONS Type: general – SubjectFull: OBSESSIVE-compulsive disorder Type: general – SubjectFull: THEMATIC analysis Type: general – SubjectFull: RESEARCH methodology Type: general – SubjectFull: ASPERGER'S syndrome Type: general – SubjectFull: PATIENTS' attitudes Type: general – SubjectFull: PEOPLE with disabilities Type: general – SubjectFull: ADULTS Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: 'Autism is the Arena and OCD is the Lion': Autistic adults' experiences of co-occurring obsessive-compulsive disorder and repetitive restricted behaviours and interests. Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Long, Hannah – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Cooper, Kate – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Russell, Ailsa IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 01 M: 11 Text: Nov2024 Type: published Y: 2024 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 13623613 Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 28 – Type: issue Value: 11 Titles: – TitleFull: Autism: The International Journal of Research & Practice Type: main |
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