Homosexuality and OCD
The older I get, the more I realize I have some OCD-like tendencies. I get easily fixated on a side project or get stuck on things that have to be done the right way. It's almost as if I have a sort of mental inflexibility at times. I'm generally pretty introspective, but sometimes I think it can cause my mind to overthink. Though, it's not to the point that is causes me distress...I don't think. I just wonder if 1) this is part of the puzzle and 2) if this is something other individuals with same-sex attraction experience. Here's what I found.
Individuals with same-sex attraction are dramatically more likely to struggle with obsessive-compulsive disorder than heterosexual people. A study examining student service members and veterans found that sexual minority people were approximately nine times more likely to report being diagnosed or treated for OCD compared to their heterosexual counterparts¹.
While OCD can take many forms — from a fear of germs to a need for constant checking — same-sex attracted individuals may find the disorder latches onto their sexuality. This means their intrusive thoughts are frequently focused on their sexual orientation, making it a primary source of distress. A recent study investigated how obsessive beliefs may differ among people with OCD based on sexual orientation; they found notable differences between groups².
Key Findings
- The Disparity: Sexual minorities are about 9 times more likely to be diagnosed with OCD than straight peers — a gap in prior research.
- Different Patterns in Obsessive Beliefs: Among adults already in treatment for OCD, bisexual/pansexual individuals reported significantly higher perfectionism beliefs and greater overestimation of threat compared to heterosexual individuals. Though curiously, gay/lesbian individuals did not differ significantly from heterosexual individuals on these measures.
- A Bigger Pattern: These results fit a broader pattern long noted in the literature: same-sex attracted populations show elevated rates of multiple mental-health conditions. OCD is simply one more domain in which the disparity appears clearly.
Why This Matters
Mainstream narratives tend to present homosexuality as a healthy, innate variant of human sexuality that is essentially equivalent to heterosexuality in every respect except the sex of one's partners. However, persistent differences in psychiatric comorbidity challenge that claim. When one group faces a ninefold higher rate of a serious condition like OCD, it becomes increasingly difficult to dismiss their experience as simply 'another normal variation' of human sexuality.
For individuals who experience unwanted same-sex attractions, findings like these are relevant for several reasons:
- They underscore that same-sex attraction frequently coexists with significant psychological distress rather than emerging in a vacuum of perfect mental health.
- They support the value of thorough assessment. Someone seeking help for unwanted same-sex attraction may also be dealing with OCD (or depression, anxiety, trauma-related symptoms, etc.).
- They reinforce the legitimacy of exploring developmental, relational, and trauma-related factors that may contribute both to the attractions and to co-occurring conditions.
Practical Implications
The data from the study suggests that this combination (SSA & OCD) is disproportionately common. I suppose the good news is that it can be treated. There are proven methods for treating OCD; exposure therapy and cognitive work are found to be helpful. I imagine that when you combine that with a deeper look at unmet emotional needs, past wounds, or missing same-sex affirmation, individuals might find relief not just from the obsessive thoughts, but in other areas of their lives as well.
Moving Forward
I find it helpful when research documents these kinds of findings. It reinforces my sense that homosexuality isn't simply another healthy variation of human sexuality, but something that often co-occurs with other distressing conditions. For me, these findings point to a deeper story and the need for a more holistic approach to understanding it. It's part of a larger trend we're seeing across the research I've shared on this site (see below). They all seem to point toward a specific pattern that emerges for those who struggle with their sexuality.
I'm still trying to put the pieces together, and I wonder if others have noticed this in themselves as well: compulsive patterns that spill out into other areas of life, in addition to unwanted SSA. Perhaps recognizing these overlapping patterns is the first step to driving meaningful change.
1) Pelts, M. D., & Albright, D. L. (2015). An exploratory study of student service members/veterans' mental health characteristics by sexual orientation. Journal of American College Health, 63(7), 508–512. https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2014.947992
2) Bezahler, A., Falkenstein, M. J., & Kuckertz, J. M. (2024). What do you believe? Differentiating obsessive beliefs between bi+, gay/lesbian and heterosexual adults with OCD. Journal of Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders, 42, 100898. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jocrd.2024.100898
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