Narcissistic abuse is associated with profound impairments in emotional regulation, personal boundaries, and cognitive autonomy. Survivors often exhibit heightened reassurance-seeking, compulsive guilt, and perfectionistic control features that may resemble obsessive-compulsive behavioural tendencies. The present study examined the relationship between boundary empowerment and obsessive-compulsive behavioural patterns in individuals identifying as victims of narcissistic abuse. A sample of 30 adults (ages 24–52) completed the Empowerment & Boundaries Assessment (EBA), while clinicians independently rated participants using the Malhotra Obsessive-Compulsive Scan (MOCS/MOCREST). Pearson correlational analyses revealed significant negative correlations between total EBA scores and MOCS scores, indicating that weaker boundaries were strongly associated with higher obsessive-compulsive behavioural indicators. Findings underscore the role of boundary collapse in the development of compulsive reassurance, control, and cognitive rigidity among survivors of narcissistic abuse.
Malhotra et al. (Wed,) studied this question.