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The following is a summary of “A systematic scoping review of the literature on sexual orientation obsessive compulsive disorder (SO–OCD): Important clinical considerations and recommendations,” published in the September 2024 issue of Psychiatry by Allely et al. 

Researchers conducted a retrospective study on obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), which involves intrusive thoughts and compulsive actions to reduce anxiety.  

They conducted a systematic PRISMA review to identify studies on sexual orientation obsessive-compulsive disorder (SO-OCD). They searched 4 databases on August 11, 2024: ProQuest 1Psychology (15 results), PsycInfo (12 results), APA PsycArticles (0 results), and APA PsycExtra (0 results). The search retrieved 27 articles, with 14 duplicates removed, leaving 13. If these 6 articles were excluded for irrelevance, resulting in 7 relevant studies. Additional searches in reference sections and Google Scholar identified 4 more relevant studies, totaling 11. No exclusion criteria or publication year restrictions were applied. 

The results showed that 11 studies were included, with 2 case reports and 9 empirical studies. SO-OCD is common in individuals with OCD but often misunderstood by clinicians and patients. 

Investigators emphasized that SO-OCD is frequently missed and misunderstood. They recommended increased awareness among clinicians to prevent ineffective or harmful treatments, as the disorder, though uncommon, warrants education. 

Source: sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0165178124004839