1
|
Tuygar Okutucu F, Ceyhun HA. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder During the COVID-19 Pandemic Process: A Narrative Review. Eurasian J Med 2022; 54:77-90. [PMID: 36655450 PMCID: PMC11163355 DOI: 10.5152/eurasianjmed.2022.22221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2022] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to review all empirical contributions published between March 2020 and June 2022, addressing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on obsessive-compulsive disorder in adults. We searched the literature in PubMed, Google Scholar, and Web of Science. A total of 543 articles were scanned and 73 full-text articles were identified. Reviews, comments, letters to the editor, and case reports (except case series) were excluded. It was determined that 42 articles met the inclusion criteria, 6 studies involving only children and adolescents were excluded, and 36 were decided on their suitability for our study. The analysis determined that COVID-19 had an impact on obsessive-compulsive disorder. Characteristics such as liability for harm and unacceptable thoughts influenced the symptoms as well as contamination and washing. Some studies showed an increase in the severity of obsessive-compulsive symptoms, while some reported no worsening but improvement with treatment and follow-up. While some reported variations in outcomes related to sociodemographic characteristics and subtypes, some focused on the risk of suicide. There were also studies conducted on special groups such as pregnant women or healthcare workers. The results were controversial. While available data contain more information on worsening obsessive-compulsive disorder symptoms, data on the status of patients under treatment were scarce. There were not enough studies evaluating follow-up results. Influencing factors such as sociodemographic characteristics, subtypes, comorbid conditions, treatment, and support did not seem to have been adequately addressed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fatma Tuygar Okutucu
- Department of Psychiatry, Atatürk University Faculty of Medicine, Erzurum, Turkey
| | - Hacer Akgul Ceyhun
- Department of Psychiatry, Atatürk University Faculty of Medicine, Erzurum, Turkey
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Pinciotti CM, Bulkes NZ, Horvath G, Riemann BC. Efficacy of intensive CBT telehealth for obsessive-compulsive disorder during the COVID-19 pandemic. J Obsessive Compuls Relat Disord 2022; 32:100705. [PMID: 34956827 PMCID: PMC8692880 DOI: 10.1016/j.jocrd.2021.100705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2021] [Revised: 12/09/2021] [Accepted: 12/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Despite evidence for the effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), many individuals with OCD lack access to needed behavioral health treatment. Although some literature suggests that virtual modes of treatment for OCD are effective, it remains unclear whether intensive programs like partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient programs (PHP and IOPs) can be delivered effectively over telehealth (TH) and within the context of a global pandemic. Limited extant research suggests that clinicians perceive attenuated treatment response during the pandemic. The trajectory and outcomes of two matched samples were compared using linear mixed modeling: a pre-COVID in-person (IP) sample (n = 239) and COVID TH sample (n = 239). Findings suggested that both modalities are effective at treating OCD and depressive symptoms, although the pandemic TH group required an additional 2.6 treatment days. The current study provides evidence that PHP and IOP treatment delivered via TH during the COVID-19 pandemic is approximately as effective as pre-pandemic IP treatment and provides promising findings for the future that individuals with complicated OCD who do not have access to IP treatment can still experience significant improvement in symptoms through TH PHP and IOP treatment during and potentially after the pandemic.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Caitlin M Pinciotti
- Rogers Behavioral Health System, 34700 Valley Rd., Oconomowoc, WI 53066, USA
| | - Nyssa Z Bulkes
- Rogers Behavioral Health System, 34700 Valley Rd., Oconomowoc, WI 53066, USA
| | - Gregor Horvath
- Rogers Behavioral Health System, 34700 Valley Rd., Oconomowoc, WI 53066, USA
| | - Bradley C Riemann
- Rogers Behavioral Health System, 34700 Valley Rd., Oconomowoc, WI 53066, USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
How are OCD patients and their families coping with the COVID-19 pandemic? A qualitative study. CURRENT PSYCHOLOGY 2022; 41:505-515. [PMID: 33867778 PMCID: PMC8040748 DOI: 10.1007/s12144-021-01724-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) are likely to be affected by the COVID-19 crisis since fear of contamination is highly prevalent in this illness and disease reminders are omnipresent during this crisis. The current study aimed to investigate the impact of the pandemic and the lockdown on the mental health, well-being and coping abilities of OCD patients and their families in order to increase our understanding of the underlying mechanisms of the disorder. Twenty-two patients and 13 family members were interviewed one-to-one about their experiences and challenges caused by the pandemic and home-confinement directives. Verbatim transcripts of the interviews were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis. Five overarching themes were identified: (1) changing point of reference: confusion and legitimization of OCD behavior, (2) coping strategies were challenged: too much or too little exposure to obsessional concerns, (3) distress but also relief in some areas, (4) developing a new equilibrium within the family, (5) changes in accessibility and nature of therapy: perils and merits of online treatment. These findings make clear the importance of the accessibility of mental health services during this pandemic through direct patient contacts or in a remote format. In therapy therapists should focus on challenging the changing point of reference, providing practical advice on coping, stimulating to engage in exposure and encouraging patients to seek social support. Furthermore, it is important to involve family members in therapy to support and coach them to be validating, supportive and encouraging, without accommodating to the OCD behaviour.
Collapse
|
4
|
Linde ES, Varga TV, Clotworthy A. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder During the COVID-19 Pandemic-A Systematic Review. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:806872. [PMID: 35401266 PMCID: PMC8989845 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.806872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2021] [Accepted: 02/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic and its associated restrictions may contribute to a deterioration in mental health; individuals with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) may be particularly affected. This systematic review aimed to investigate the effects of the current pandemic on people diagnosed with OCD, and whether pandemics may affect the development of OCD symptoms. METHODS We conducted a systematic search using NCBI PubMed, SCOPUS, and Google Scholar on February 9, 2021. Research articles related to OCD and COVID-19 or other pandemics were attempted to be identified using pre-defined search terms. Case reports, clinical guidelines, letters, and clinical research articles including ≥100 participants were included; reviews were excluded. The systematic review adheres to PRISMA guidelines and the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was used to assess the quality of the included clinical research articles. RESULTS A total of 79 articles were included in the full-text assessment. Of these, 59 were clinical research articles, two were clinical guidelines, six were case reports, and 12 were letters. The research articles examined OCD symptoms in adult patients with diagnosed OCD, the general population, pregnant women, healthcare workers, students, and young adults, children, and adolescents. Only one study on OCD in previous pandemics was identified. CONCLUSION This systematic review found that people both with and without diagnosed OCD prior to the pandemic generally experienced a worsened landscape of symptoms of OCD during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the responses are heterogeneous and many factors other than the pandemic seemed to affect the development of OCD symptoms. To prevent the impairment of symptoms and the development of new cases, close monitoring of patients with OCD and education of the general public is essential. Literature is still limited; thus, multinational and cross-cultural, longitudinal studies are warranted to gain further insights on this topic.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elisabeth S Linde
- Section of Epidemiology, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Tibor V Varga
- Section of Epidemiology, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Amy Clotworthy
- Section of Epidemiology, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Tandt HL, Debruyckere I, Leyman L, Colman R, De Jaeghere EA, Van Parys H, Baeken C, Purdon C, Lemmens GM. How are OCD Patients and Family Members Dealing with the Waxing and Waning Pattern of the COVID-19 Pandemic? Results of a Longitudinal Observational Study. Psychiatr Q 2021; 92:1549-1563. [PMID: 34097247 PMCID: PMC8182341 DOI: 10.1007/s11126-021-09932-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The current study aimed to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of people with OCD and the degree of family accommodation (FA) by live-in family members across phases of the lockdown measures imposed by the Belgian government. Forty-nine OCD patients and 26 live-in family members participated in the study. We assessed OCD symptom severity and FA of the live-in family members, as well as depressive symptoms, anxiety and stress levels and COVID-19 related psychological distress of patients and family members at four different timepoints: one month after the start of the lockdown (T1), during the gradual relaxation (T2), between the two waves (T3) and during the second wave (T4). Results showed that although COVID-19 related stress increased and decreased in accordance with the waxing and waning pattern of the pandemic, OCD symptoms showed an initial slight increase followed by a decrease at T3 and again at T4. Changes in family members' accommodation of symptoms followed the same course as the OCD symptoms. Furthermore, OCD symptoms correlated with depressive symptoms, anxiety and stress levels and COVID-19 related distress at all timepoints. It is important to involve family members in the treatment of OCD even during a pandemic. Clinicians should also pay attention to symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress during OCD treatment. Further research is necessary to entangle the causal relationship between OCD symptoms, FA and symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Inge Debruyckere
- Department of Psychiatry, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Lemke Leyman
- Department of Psychiatry, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Roos Colman
- Biostatistics Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Emiel A De Jaeghere
- Department of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Medical Oncology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium.,Department of Human Structure and repair, Laboratory of Experimental Cancer Research, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Hanna Van Parys
- Department of Psychiatry, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Chris Baeken
- Department of Head and Skin, Psychiatry and Medical Psychology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.,Department of Psychiatry, Free University of Brussels, Brussels, Belgium
| | | | - Gilbert Md Lemmens
- Department of Psychiatry, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium.,Department of Head and Skin, Psychiatry and Medical Psychology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
COVID-19 related differences in the uptake and effects of internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy for symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder. Behav Cogn Psychother 2021; 50:219-236. [PMID: 34753528 DOI: 10.1017/s1352465821000448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The impacts of COVID-19 for people with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) may be considerable. Online cognitive behavioural therapy (iCBT) programmes provide scalable access to psychological interventions, although the effectiveness of iCBT for OCD during COVID-19 has not been evaluated. AIM This study investigated the uptake and effectiveness of iCBT for OCD (both self- and clinician-guided courses) during the first 8 months of the pandemic in Australia (March to October 2020) and compared outcomes with the previous year. METHOD 1,343 adults (824/1343 (61.4%) female, mean age 33.54 years, SD = 12.00) commenced iCBT for OCD (1061 during the pandemic and 282 in the year before) and completed measures of OCD (Dimensional Obsessive-Compulsive Scale) and depression (Patient Health Questionaire-9) symptom severity, psychological distress (Kessler-10), and disability (WHO Disability Assessment Schedule) pre- and post-treatment. RESULTS During COVID-19, there was a 522% increase in monthly course registrations compared with the previous year, with peak uptake observed between April and June 2020 (a 1191% increase compared with April to June 2019). OCD and depression symptom severity were similar for the COVID and pre-COVID groups, although COVID-19 participants were more likely to enrol in self-guided courses (versus clinician-guided). In both pre- and during-COVID groups, the OCD iCBT course was associated with medium effect size reductions in OCD (g = 0.65-0.68) and depression symptom severity (g = 0.56-0.65), medium to large reductions in psychological distress (g = 0.77-0.83) and small reductions in disability (g = 0.35-.50). CONCLUSION Results demonstrate the considerable uptake of online psychological services for those experiencing symptoms of OCD during COVID-19 and highlight the scalability of effective digital mental health services.
Collapse
|
7
|
Fontenelle LF, Albertella L, Brierley ME, Thompson EM, Destrée L, Chamberlain SR, Yücel M. Correlates of obsessive-compulsive and related disorders symptom severity during the COVID-19 pandemic. J Psychiatr Res 2021; 143:471-480. [PMID: 33958180 PMCID: PMC8548281 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2021.03.046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2020] [Revised: 03/06/2021] [Accepted: 03/24/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
We investigated changes in the severity of obsessive-compulsive and related disorders (OCRDs) symptoms as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. An Amazon Mechanical Turk sample of 829 individuals was evaluated with a series of instruments assessing the severity of the OCRDs before and during the pandemic. Additional questionnaires about sociodemographic factors, personal and family histories of OCRD, COVID-19 related events, compulsivity and impulsivity traits, schizotypal symptoms, and the severity of depression, anxiety and stress levels, were also used. Participants reported that OCD, hoarding disorder (HD) and skin picking disorder (SPD) symptoms significantly worsened during the pandemic along with increased disability, more affective symptoms and reduced quality of life. Female gender, a higher number of COVID-19 related stressful events, and higher pre-COVID-19 fear of harm and symmetry symptoms predicted more severe OCD symptoms during the pandemic, whereas lack of a HD diagnosis by a mental health professional and more severe schizotypal symptoms predicted worsened hoarding symptoms. Greater compulsivity traits were associated with more severe COVID-19 pandemic obsessive-compulsive and hoarding symptoms. These data indicate that the immense distress resulting from the COVID-19 included significant deterioration of OCRDs' symptoms, particularly of OCD, HD and SPD. It was also possible to identify a pre-pandemic profile of people most at risk of pandemic-related deterioration in OCRDs' symptoms, which may prove valuable for preventative initiatives in relation to the likely future waves of COVID-19 or of other communicable diseases. Future studies should follow up these findings longitudinally.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Leonardo F. Fontenelle
- Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Monash University, 770 Blackburn Road, Clayton, Victoria, 3168, Australia,Obsessive, Compulsive, and Anxiety Spectrum Research Program, Institute of Psychiatry, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) & D’Or Institute for Research and Education (IDOR), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil,Corresponding author. Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Monash University, 770 Blackburn Road, Clayton, Victoria, 3168, Australia
| | - Lucy Albertella
- Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Monash University, 770 Blackburn Road, Clayton, Victoria, 3168, Australia
| | - Mary-Ellen Brierley
- Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Monash University, 770 Blackburn Road, Clayton, Victoria, 3168, Australia
| | - Emma M. Thompson
- Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Monash University, 770 Blackburn Road, Clayton, Victoria, 3168, Australia
| | - Louise Destrée
- Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Monash University, 770 Blackburn Road, Clayton, Victoria, 3168, Australia
| | - Sam R. Chamberlain
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, & Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, UK
| | - Murat Yücel
- Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Monash University, 770 Blackburn Road, Clayton, Victoria, 3168, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Pardej SK, Glad DM, Casnar CL, Janke KM, Klein-Tasman BP. Longitudinal Investigation of Early Motor Development in Neurofibromatosis Type 1. J Pediatr Psychol 2021; 47:180-188. [PMID: 34664663 DOI: 10.1093/jpepsy/jsab090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2020] [Revised: 06/30/2021] [Accepted: 07/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Research indicates that children with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) have weaknesses in fine and gross motor development in early childhood; however, little is known about the stability and developmental trajectory of motor functioning. We investigated (1) whether motor difficulties are evident and stable in the preschool period in children with NF1 and (2) whether there are particular patterns of motor development in this population. METHODS Participants with NF1 and a control group of unaffected siblings were enrolled at ages 3-8 years and were assessed yearly. Motor functioning was assessed longitudinally using the Scales of Independent Behavior-Revised Motor Scale and the Differential Ability Scales-II Copying subtest. Wilcoxon sign tests were used to compare motor functioning at 3 or 4 years to 5 or 6 years old for children with NF1 seen during both time periods (N = 27). Linear mixed model growth curve analyses were used to compare trajectories for both children with NF1 (N = 62) and unaffected siblings (N = 37). RESULTS Children with NF1 made relative gains in raw scores, but not standard scores, across measures. Growth curve analyses revealed a significant effect of NF1 status on gross motor, fine motor, and copying scores, as well as an age by NF1 status effect on fine and gross motor scores. CONCLUSIONS Motor difficulties are evident early in life in children with NF1. Though children with NF1 clearly acquire motor skills over time, they continue to fall behind unaffected siblings, with the gap potentially widening over time. Further implications are discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sara K Pardej
- Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, USA
| | - Danielle M Glad
- Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, USA
| | - Christina L Casnar
- Division of Neuropsychology, Department of Neurology, Medical College of Wisconsin, USA
| | - Kelly M Janke
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
9
|
Pinciotti CM, Piacsek K, Kay B, Bailey B, Riemann BC. OCD in the time of COVID-19: A global pandemic's impact on mental health patients and their treatment providers. Bull Menninger Clin 2021; 86:91-112. [PMID: 34346726 DOI: 10.1521/bumc_2021_85_04] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Individuals with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) have evidenced resilience against large-scale crises, although emerging research on the impact of COVID-19 is mixed. Little is known about the impact of COVID-19 on mental health providers. Items from an instrument evaluating the impact of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attack were adapted to measure the impact of COVID-19 on emotions, cognitions, and behaviors. Using a sample of 65 patients with primary OCD diagnoses and OCD treatment providers in intensive programs for OCD and anxiety, the authors found that COVID-19 evidenced a less significant overall impact on patients than providers. Specifically, providers reported more significant impact on the amount of time spent worrying about COVID-19, taking additional cleaning and sanitization precautions, and time spent socializing with loved ones. Findings support previous literature indicating that individuals with OCD demonstrate resilience to large-scale crises, and offer insights into the specific struggles of providers who treat OCD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Caitlin M Pinciotti
- The Rogers Behavioral Health System, Oconomowoc, Wisconsin.,Associate research psychologist
| | - Kelly Piacsek
- The Rogers Behavioral Health System, Oconomowoc, Wisconsin.,Vice president of research
| | - Brian Kay
- The Rogers Behavioral Health System, Oconomowoc, Wisconsin.,Vice president of continuous improvement
| | - Brenda Bailey
- The Rogers Behavioral Health System, Oconomowoc, Wisconsin.,Clinical supervisor
| | - Bradley C Riemann
- The Rogers Behavioral Health System, Oconomowoc, Wisconsin.,Chief clinical officer
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Liu W, Zhang H, He Y. Variation in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Symptoms and Treatments: A Side Effect of COVID-19. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:7420. [PMID: 34299871 PMCID: PMC8304611 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18147420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2021] [Revised: 06/30/2021] [Accepted: 07/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) exerts variable impact on patients with obsessive compulsive disorders (OCD). There remains a challenge to determine the extent to which OCD is exacerbated due to the pandemic. Therefore, our aim is to explicate the latest researching progress of OCD under COVID-19 based on a review of 15 existing articles. Our review confirms the prevalence of OCD exacerbation in different age groups and particular symptoms. However, it also reveals nonconformity among research, lack of investigation in OCD treatment, and imbalance in OCD symptoms research. Further, we discuss the probable reasons of the exacerbation and current situation of OCD treatments. Finally, based on our discussion, we offer suggestions on how to manage OCD under the new circumstance, including the introduction of new policies, the use of communications technology, the improvement of researching methods, and possible angles for further research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wuqianhui Liu
- The First School of Clinical Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China;
| | - Haitao Zhang
- The Research Center for Medical Security, China Pharmaceutic University, Nanjing 211166, China;
- The Institute of National Governance and National Audit, Nanjing Audit University, Nanjing 211815, China
| | - Yuan He
- The Institute of Medical Humanities, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Wheaton MG, Ward HE, Silber A, McIngvale E, Björgvinsson T. How is the COVID-19 pandemic affecting individuals with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) symptoms? J Anxiety Disord 2021; 81:102410. [PMID: 33965747 PMCID: PMC9759664 DOI: 10.1016/j.janxdis.2021.102410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2020] [Revised: 02/27/2021] [Accepted: 04/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has caused substantial public health burden and widespread anxiety. The adverse mental health effects caused by COVID-19 may be particularly acute for individuals with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). For the present study, we developed an online survey to investigate how COVID-19 has affected the OCD community. The survey included both quantitative and qualitative questions to assess multiple facets of how the pandemic has affected individuals with OCD symptoms. Responses were collected from adults with self-identified OCD recruited from OCD-specific forums and websites (n = 252). The majority (76.2 %) of respondents reported that their OCD symptoms had worsened since the outbreak, though there was substantial variability in individual responses. Negative effects of COVID-19 were more strongly linked to contamination and responsibility for harm symptoms than for other symptom dimensions. The self-identified OCD group also reported heightened concerns about COVID-19 compared to a community control sample recruited through Amazon's Mechanical Turk (MTurk). Lastly, many participants reported that the pandemic had interfered with their OCD treatment, yet they remained mostly satisfied with how their treatment providers had handled the crisis. These results highlight the importance of considering how COVID-19 has affected the OCD community, with possible implications for treatment providers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michael G. Wheaton
- Barnard College, New York, NY, USA,Corresponding author at: Barnard College, 3009 Broadway, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
12
|
Zaccari V, D'Arienzo MC, Caiazzo T, Magno A, Amico G, Mancini F. Narrative Review of COVID-19 Impact on Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder in Child, Adolescent and Adult Clinical Populations. Front Psychiatry 2021; 12:673161. [PMID: 34054624 PMCID: PMC8158808 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.673161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2021] [Accepted: 04/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic and quarantine had a significant impact on mental health which resulted in an increase of anxiety and depression in adult, child and adolescent clinical populations. Less is known about the potential effect of pandemic on obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) so there is a lack of review work to illustrate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on OCD. Purpose: The main objective is to review all the empirical contributions published after March 2020 that dealt with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on OCD in adults, children and adolescents, investigating the state-of-the-art literature concerning the impact on OCD and detailing limitations. Methods: The literature search was conducted using PsycINFO, PsycARTICLES, MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, and Google Scholar. This review analyzed all studies from January 2020 to 8 January 2021, focusing on clinical populations of children, adolescents, and adults with OCD. Results: A total of 102 articles were screened, resulting in the identification of 64 full-text articles to be further scrutinized. Upon closer examination, there was consensus that 39 articles met the study inclusion criteria and 14 of these were selected for study. Analysis of the results revealed that COVID-19 had an impact on OCD in both adults and young people and seems to have caused exacerbation of symptoms, especially of the contamination/washing subtypes. Eight studies in adult samples showed an increase in the severity of obsessive-compulsive symptoms; two studies underlined a minimal impact of COVID-19 on OCD patients and one study showed a slight improvement in symptoms. Two out of three studies on children and adolescents showed an exacerbation of OCD and a worsening even in the presence of an ongoing treatment. Conclusions: The studies reviewed are few. There are more studies on adult OCD than on children and adolescents. The results are controversial: few studies examined OCD subtypes; in most studies the typology of treatment was not clear and the samples covered a wide age range; a large number of studies did not use the same monitoring period or quantitative measures, both of which make it difficult to compare or rely on the results.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Vittoria Zaccari
- School of Cognitive Psychotherapy, Rome, Italy
- Department of Human Sciences, Marconi University, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | - Francesco Mancini
- School of Cognitive Psychotherapy, Rome, Italy
- Department of Human Sciences, Marconi University, Rome, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Khosravani V, Aardema F, Samimi Ardestani SM, Sharifi Bastan F. The impact of the coronavirus pandemic on specific symptom dimensions and severity in OCD: A comparison before and during COVID-19 in the context of stress responses. J Obsessive Compuls Relat Disord 2021; 29:100626. [PMID: 33520614 PMCID: PMC7834974 DOI: 10.1016/j.jocrd.2021.100626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2020] [Revised: 01/22/2021] [Accepted: 01/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The present study aimed to compare a group of patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD; N = 270) before and during COVID-19 on specific obsessive-compulsive (OC) symptom dimensions and symptom severity. In addition, the study aimed to evaluate the associations of COVID-19-related stress responses with change in OC symptom dimensions and severity of symptoms as the result of the pandemic. Results showed that patients with OCD had higher scores on all OC symptom dimensions and symptom severity during the pandemic as compared to their scores from before the pandemic. Thus, the effect of COVID-19 is not limited to an increase in fears of contamination alone, but occurs across other symptom dimensions, including responsibility for harm, unacceptable thoughts, and symmetry. In addition, regression analyses indicated that COVID-19-related stress responses significantly predicted the observed increase in specific OC symptom dimensions and general severity, after controlling for pre-COVID-19 scores of symptoms and severity. The increase of symptoms as the result of COVID-19 might be best understood in the context of a non-specific stress-related response similar to the effects observed in non-clinical and other clinical populations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Vahid Khosravani
- Behavioral Sciences Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Frederick Aardema
- Montreal Mental Health University Institute Research Center, University of Montreal, Department of Psychiatry and Addictology, 7331 Hochelaga Street, Montreal, QC, H1N 3V2, Canada
| | - Seyed Mehdi Samimi Ardestani
- Departments of Psychiatry, Behavioral Sciences Research Center, Imam Hossein Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | | |
Collapse
|
14
|
Zaccari V, Gragnani A, Pellegrini V, Caiazzo T, D'Arienzo MC, Magno A, Femia G, Mancini F. An Observational Study of OCD Patients Treated With Cognitive Behavioral Therapy During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Front Psychiatry 2021; 12:755744. [PMID: 34744841 PMCID: PMC8569247 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.755744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2021] [Accepted: 09/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background and Objectives: While the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic for general mental health and the increase in anxiety and depression are clear, less is known about the potential effect of the pandemic on OCD. The purpose of this study is to collect new data to monitor the symptomatic status of patients with OCD during the period of emergency due to COVID-19 and to make a comparison between two psychodiagnostic evaluations. Methods: Eleven OCD patients and their psychotherapists were recruited. All patients had a specific psychodiagnostic assessment for OCD (SCL-90; OCI-R; Y-BOCS self-report) performed between December 2019 and January 2020 (t0), and undertook cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and exposure and prevention of response protocol (ERP) before the lockdown. The psychodiagnostic assessment carried out at t0 was re-administered (t1) to all patients, together with a set of qualitative questions collected through an online survey. The respective therapists were asked to document the status of the therapy and the monitoring of symptoms through use of a semi-structured interview (Y-BOCS) and a qualitative interview. Non-parametric analyses were conducted. Results: Patients reported a significant decrease in OCD symptoms. Data analysis showed a decrease in the scores across t0 and at t1 on the Y-BOCS (SR) total self-report, and on OCD symptoms' severity assessed by means of the OCI-r and SCL-90 r OC subscale, for 11 participants. Relating to the measures detected by psychotherapists, marginally significant improvements and lower scores were found in the Y-BOCS (I). An improvement in symptoms was noticed by 90.9% of the clinical sample; this was confirmed by 45.4% of the therapists, who claimed moderate progress in their patients. Conclusions: The data collected through standardized measurements at two different times, albeit relative to a small sample, assume relevance from a clinical point of view. In the literature, some studies document the worsening of OCD. However, in many studies, the type of treatment, the detection time, and the intervention period are not well-specified. These results confirm the effectiveness of CBT/ERP as an elective treatment for OCD through a specific intervention procedure.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Vittoria Zaccari
- Associazione Scuola di Psicoterapia Cognitiva (APC-SPC), Rome, Italy.,Department of Human Sciences, Marconi University, Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Gragnani
- Associazione Scuola di Psicoterapia Cognitiva (APC-SPC), Rome, Italy
| | - Valerio Pellegrini
- Department of Social and Developmental Psychology Sapienza, University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Tecla Caiazzo
- Associazione Scuola di Psicoterapia Cognitiva (APC-SPC), Rome, Italy
| | | | - Antonella Magno
- Associazione Scuola di Psicoterapia Cognitiva (APC-SPC), Rome, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Femia
- Associazione Scuola di Psicoterapia Cognitiva (APC-SPC), Rome, Italy
| | - Francesco Mancini
- Associazione Scuola di Psicoterapia Cognitiva (APC-SPC), Rome, Italy.,Department of Human Sciences, Marconi University, Rome, Italy
| |
Collapse
|