Brief Summary

OCD is a prevalent disorder with a lifetime prevalence of 2%-4%. This presentation looks at OCD from a transcultural aspect in the Middle East taking Egypt as an example. In the Middle Eastern culture the humanitarian nature of the doctors interaction depends on the way the doctor deals with the patient and the family, and the extent to which the doctor expresses respect for, and acceptance of  the local cultural and spiritual norms.

This presentation discusses the differences between traditional and nontraditional cultural beliefs and how the presentation of OCD is affected by religious beliefs and societal norms. The presentation also reflects on how parenting styles, education, and family history profoundly shape both the severity and the symptomatic flavor of OCD in Egyptian patients. The father’s behavior dictates the theme of the OCD, while the mother’s behavior heavily dictates the intensity and severity of the disorder. Authoritative maternal presence is the single most powerful family-based protective factor against developing severe psychopathology. The presentation also discuss the updated anatomical aetiology of OCD as well as the concept of OCD with and without psychosis. Finally an overview of the updated management of OCD is discussed.