A Qualitative Study of Nonverbal Reassurance Seeking in OCD

The aim of this study was to develop a description of nonverbal reassurance seeking (NVRS) in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). People with OCD and a partner of their choosing were interviewed about NVRS. Based on preliminary analyses, the study found that NVRS may be prompted by similar reasons as verbal RS. NVRS results in outcomes like reassurance, temporary neutralization of obsessions, and brief relief from negative emotions. Participants preferred NVRS over verbal RS for many reasons (e.g., it typically yielded less negative feedback, resulted in reassurance more rapidly, and cued reassurance from trusted people without others' awareness especially in more social settings. Comprehensive data analyses will reveal more about this understudied interpersonal compulsion.