PSYCHOLOGICAL IMPACT OF COVID-19PANDEMIC ON PATIENTS WITH OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE DISORDER

Abstract

Introduction: Obsessive-compulsive disorder is characterized by persistent irrational thoughts manifested by repeated actions. These disorders often have an impact on the social life of those who suffer from them, with a tendency towards isolation which can be exacerbated during this period of confinement. Among these disorders, the fear of contamination is very common. This fear is influenced by culture, society, and global health issues. Thus, in 1920, many cases of fear of syphilis emerged following major awareness campaigns pertaining to the disease. In the 1980s, obsessive disorders related to the risk of HIV infection appeared. Likewise, the Covid-19 coronavirus epidemic is likely to cause a significant deal of anxiety for some people with obsessive-compulsive disorder, thus justifying the aggravation of the clinical condition of this category of patients. The hand-washing recommendations that were promoted during the pandemic would prove to be a major trigger for obsessive-compulsive disorder. Quickly, this gesture becomes an obsession and gradually as the virus spreads, experts expect the cases of associated obsessive-compulsive disorders to increase [1]. Closeness between family members and disrupted habits during confinement can lead to conflict, which can increase the frequency of compulsions. Meditation can also increase the flow of uncontrolled thoughts which can promote the emergence of obsessions. During this time of the pandemic, doctors and people with obsessive-compulsive disorders find themselves in a dilemma. On the one hand, to treat obsessive-compulsive disorders, hand washing is prohibited, and on the other hand, to prevent the spread of the virus, hand washing is strongly recommended. Covid-19 can therefore be an unbearable nightmare, and harder to manage for people with obsessive-compulsive disorders. Objective: This study aims to assess the psychological repercussions of confinement on patients suffering from obsessive-compulsive disorders during the Covid-19 pandemic, and to underline the link between the aggravation of the symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder and the underlying perceived stress associated with it. Methodology: This is a descriptive and analytical study, which involves a sample of patients tracked for obsessive-compulsive disorders, and which is founded on collecting their individual information through an anonymous survey, which was submitted via social networks, either by using smartphones or during consultations. As an assessment instrument, in addition to the survey for collecting socio-demographic data, we opted for the Yale-Brown Scale to assess the severity of the symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder, as well as the Cohen Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) to assess the perceived stress on this group of patients during this pandemic. These scales were chosen because of their frequent use in several studies on the same topic. Results:We collected 102 responses, of which 55% were women 39% of our candidates worked remotely and only 38.8% of patients were able to continue their medical follow-up at the hospital during the confinement. Concerningour results,it was observed that our participants experienced significant changes in terms of the severity of the total symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder during the period of confinement with an accentuation of 90% of the symptoms of contamination and 53.8% of the hands washing compulsions during the Covid-19 pandemic. Respondents, who had symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder, since the onset of Covid-19, were the only ones who were significantly more likely to be vulnerable to moderately high stress. Likewise, respondents who compulsively washed their hands were significantly more likely to experience vulnerability to moderate to high stress. 45.3% of our applicants were extremely anxious, 33% were very anxious, and 21.7% were anguished to a tolerable level, with a rate of 75.5% of patients developing a social handicap or an inability to function. The sample showed that subjects who could not work or study from a remote position during the quarantine, those who lived with a relative in the same house during the quarantine, and those who showed symptoms of contamination, had significantly greater aggravation of the obsessive-compulsive disorder total symptoms during the confinement. Effects were not significant for other variables including gender, use of online social network sites and applications during the quarantine and remission status on obsessive-compulsive disorder symptoms before quarantine. Conclusion: Our results suggest that the stressful period of the pandemic is associated with a significant worsening of symptoms on patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder, particularly on those with contamination obsessions and washing compulsions. Having obsessive-compulsive disorder would increase the likelihood of experiencing significant stress during this pandemic.