Over many years of practice, and through numerous conversations with colleagues from CMDA, I have recognized a significant gap in both academic literature and church resources addressing Religious OCD, also known as scrupulosity. Despite being a deeply impactful condition, Religious OCD remains largely misunderstood and under-discussed. Individuals who struggle with this form of OCD — along with their families and church communities — often find themselves navigating these difficulties in isolation and confusion.

This blog series was created in the hope of helping to change that.

The goal of this twelve-article series is to provide clear, accessible, and theologically sensitive educational material that can:

Creating this series has been a careful and deliberate process. I began by developing a detailed outline, organizing the key issues that I believe need to be addressed. Then, I wrote down what I felt needed to be communicated based on my clinical experience and expertise, and fleshed out those ideas in rough form. To help craft the initial drafts of each article, I utilized a large language model (LLM), allowing this tool to assist in generating cohesive, structured drafts based on my outlines, content, and direction.

However, this was just the starting point. I approached each draft from the LLM as a sculptor approaches raw stone — carefully chiseling away, refining, and reshaping the material until I found a final product that struck the right balance between clinical accuracy, theological sensitivity, and readability for a lay audience.

The process of writing is time-intensive, involving multiple drafts, careful word selection, thoughtful phrasing, and attention to grammar. As a busy clinician, I simply don’t have the luxury of dedicating that level of time and focus to each article. Still, I remain committed to educating the public on topics that I believe matter deeply.

Large language models have become valuable tools that help transform complex thoughts into structured drafts, assisting with much of the technical refinement. That said, I approached using this technology with some caution. As a history major from a liberal arts college — and the son of an English teacher — I deeply value the craftsmanship of writing. While I miss the time to fully immerse myself in that process, I’ve found that LLMs can be a tremendous aid for busy clinicians, provided we carefully review, revise, and shape the final product to ensure accuracy and integrity.

I hope this blog series will serve as a resource for those who are suffering, for the pastors who shepherd them, and for the families who love and support them. My prayer is that it will help bring clarity, encouragement, and practical guidance where there has previously been silence or confusion.

Thank you for joining me on this journey.
— Dr. Brian Briscoe

For Kentucky Residents

If you live in Kentucky and are seeking support for religious OCD or scrupulosity, our team at Next Step 4 Mental Health in Louisville is here to help. We offer compassionate, evidence-based care—both in-person and through telehealth—for children, teens, and adults.

 nextstep.doctor

 502-339-2442

 contactus@nextstep.doctor

For Those Outside Kentucky

If you’re not a Kentucky resident, we encourage you to seek care from a licensed mental health provider in your area. Professional support can be a vital step toward healing and peace.