Mapping the relationship: a cross-sectional analysis of obsessive-compulsive symptoms and mindfulness in undergraduate medical students from Central India

Background: Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a chronic psychiatric condition characterized by intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviours (compulsions) performed to relieve the associated distress. Medical education is known to be intellectually and emotionally demanding, often leading to increased levels of stress, anxiety, and symptoms of psychological disorders. This study aimed to assess the relationship between obsessive-compulsive symptoms and mindfulness among undergraduate medical students in central India. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 240 undergraduate medical students and interns, using convenience sampling. A self-administered questionnaires based on two validated scales: the obsessive-compulsive inventory-revised (OCI-R) to assess obsessive-compulsive symptoms and the mindful attention awareness scale (MAAS) to measure mindfulness was used. Data were collected using paper-based forms and analysed for gender differences and correlation between OCI-R and MAAS scores. Results: Among the 240 participants, 130 were males and 110 were females, males reported a higher mean OCI-R score (27.4) compared to females (24.3), with median values of 29.0 and 24.5, respectively. It was observed that as individuals’ OCI scores increase their MAAS scores, tend to slightly decrease. However, the association appears weak. Conclusions: The findings support the growing evidence that mindfulness is negatively associated with obsessive-compulsive symptoms. Incorporating mindfulness-based interventions in medical training may help reduce psychological distress. Further research is needed to explore causality and long-term benefits of mindfulness practices in this population.