OCD Symptoms Research Articles

The effect of aerobic exercise alone and in combination with cognitive behavioural therapy on obsessive compulsive disorder: A randomized control study

PurposeCognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) has been found to be an effective treatment for OCD, but there remains a significant proportion of individuals who fail to show a treatment response. Aerobic exercise has previously been associated with decreases in anxiety and depression, as well as improvements in OCD symptoms in small-scale studies. The purpose of the present research was to use a randomized control trial design to examine the effects of exercise alone and in combination with CBT, on OCD symptoms and secondary symptoms. Method125 participants were randomly assigned to one of four treatment groups: waitlist control, exercise, CBT, and CBT with exercise. OCD symptom severity was measured at four points over the course of treatment, secondary outcome measures were gathered at three points over treatment. ResultsCBT alone and combined with exercise was associated with significantly greater OCD symptom reduction than exercise alone or the control groups. Total exercise frequency predicted OCD symptom reduction in the groups in which exercise was measured. Group membership did not significantly predict reductions in secondary outcome measures. ConclusionExercise frequency, rather than the presence or absence of exercise, appears to predict OCD symptom reduction, as did participation in CBT.

A Meta-analysis of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

BackgroundObsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a debilitating illness with substantial morbidity. Although pharmacological and behavioral evidence–based treatments have shown efficacy, many patients remain unresponsive to this first-line care. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has shown significant promise for patients with treatment-refractory affective disorders. Therefore, we conducted a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials to examine the therapeutic benefit of rTMS in patients with OCD and explore moderators of its treatment effects. MethodsPubMed (1997–Dec 31, 2022) and PsycINFO were searched for randomized sham-controlled trials of rTMS to treat OCD using the following terms: “obsessive-compulsive disorder,” “transcranial magnetic stimulation,” and “randomized controlled trial.” Clinical characteristics and effect sizes were extracted from 25 randomized controlled trials (860 participants). A random effects model calculated the effect sizes for treatment efficacy and treatment response using the clinician-rated Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale. ResultsAcross randomized controlled trials, rTMS exhibited a moderate therapeutic effect (g = 0.65) on OCD symptom severity and a 3-fold increased likelihood of treatment response (relative risk = 3.15) compared with sham conditions. Greater improvement in comorbid depression severity corresponded with greater treatment effects of rTMS on OCD symptom severity. In addition, longer rTMS sessions and fewer overall sessions predicted greater clinical improvement. ConclusionsrTMS is moderately effective for reducing OCD symptom severity. It holds potential to serve as a therapeutic intervention, particularly for patients with OCD who have failed standard treatments and those with comorbid depression. Further research is needed to optimize rTMS protocols and evaluate the long-term efficacy of rTMS for OCD.

A pilot study of experiencing racial microaggressions, obsessive-compulsive symptoms, and the role of psychological flexibility.

Experiencing racial microaggressions has clear effects on physical and psychological health, including obsessive-compulsive disorder symptoms (OCS). More research is needed to examine this link. Psychological flexibility is an important process to examine in this work. This study aimed to examine if, while controlling for depression and anxiety, experiences of microaggressions and psychological flexibility helped explain OCD symptoms within a university-affiliated sample (undergraduate, graduate and law students). This was a pilot exploration of the relationships across themes. Initial baseline data from a longitudinal study of psychological flexibility, OCD symptoms, depression, anxiety and experience of microaggressions was utilized. Correlations and regressions were utilized to examine which OCD symptom dimensions were associated with experiencing racial microaggressions in addition to anxiety and depression, and the added role of psychological flexibility was examined. OCD symptoms, experiences of microaggressions and psychological flexibility were correlated. Experiences of racial microaggressions explained responsibility for harm and contamination OCD symptoms above and beyond psychological distress. Exploratory results support the relevance of psychological flexibility. Results support other work that experiences of racial microaggressions help explain OCS and they add some support for psychological flexibility as a relevant risk or protective factor for mental health in marginalized populations. These topics should be studied longitudinally with continued consideration of all OCD themes, larger sample sizes, intersecting identities, clinical samples, and continued exploration of psychological flexibility and mindfulness and values-based treatments.

The contribution of guilt sensitivity in the prediction of obsessive-compulsive disorder symptom dimensions: Replication and extension

BackgroundObsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is associated with particular cognitive processes, such as beliefs about the importance of intrusive thoughts. The present study examined the explanatory power of guilt sensitivity to OCD symptom dimensions after controlling for well-established cognitive predictors. Methods164 patients with OCD completed self-reported measures of OCD and depressive symptoms, obsessive beliefs, and guilt sensitivity. Bivariate correlations were examined, and latent profile analysis (LPA) was used to generate groups based on symptom severity scores. Differences in guilt sensitivity were examined across latent profiles. ResultsGuilt sensitivity was most strongly associated with unacceptable thoughts and responsibility for harm OCD symptoms, and moderately with symmetry. After controlling for depression and obsessive beliefs, guilt sensitivity added explanatory power to the prediction of unacceptable thoughts. LPA identified 3 profiles; profile-based subgroups significantly differed from one another in terms of guilt sensitivity, depression, and obsessive beliefs. ConclusionsGuilt sensitivity is relevant to various OCD symptom dimensions. Above and beyond depression and obsessive beliefs, guilt sensitivity contributed to the explanation of repugnant obsessions. Theory, research, and treatment implications are discussed.

THE MINDFULNESS TECHNIQUE FOR TREATMENT OF OCD

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is one of the most disabling mental disorders in the world and there are different interventions in the treatment strategy for obsessive compulsive disorder. A recent technique that has been gaining ground within positive psychology is Mindfulness, this technique has shown promising results and is being used as a new resource for adherence to the treatment of OCD symptoms. The aim of this study was to perform a systematic review of the literature to verify the therapeutic efficacy of mindfulness-based interventions for the treatment of patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder. The study was carried out through a systematic review of the literature in the following databases: Pubmed, Psycinfo, BVS and Web of Science. The keywords used were searched in the Descriptors in Health Sciences (DecS) terminology banks. These were complemented by keywords found in reference articles on the subject. The following string was used: “mindfulness” AND “obsessive compulsive disorder” OR “OCD”. Initially, a total of 320 articles were found, after applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 19 articles entered this review. Mindfulness-based interventions have emerged as an important therapeutic tool. Research on the subject points to its role in reducing the symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder and increasing quality of life. The results of different interventions point to the potential of mindfulness-based programs and the benefits of their application in individuals with obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Olfactory Obsessions: A Study of Prevalence and Phenomenology in the Course of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.

Olfactory obsessions (OOs) are rarely described in the medical literature. The features of OOs appear consistent with characteristics of a typical obsession, but since they do not involve the realm of thought, it is questionable to term them obsessions per se. Olfactory Reference Syndrome (ORS) presents OOs inconsistently and is a distinctive diagnostic category related to OCD. Therefore, the primary objectives of our study were not only to assess the prevalence of OOs in OCD patients, but also to demonstrate their phenomenological consistency with other OCD symptoms. The study group consisted of 75 patients already diagnosed and treated for OCD. Hence, a comparison was made between OCD patients with and without OOs in terms of: symptom severity, level of insight and comorbidities. Olfactory obsessions (OOs) were found in 21.33% (n = 16). OOs induced compulsive behavior in more than 93% of subjects. The presence of OOs did not significantly differentiate the studied groups in terms of OCD severity (p = 0.876), level of insight (p = 0.680), depression (p = 0.746), mania (p = 0.525) and OCDP traits (p = 0.624). However, a comparison of the two groups showed that OOs patients presented higher levels of hostility (p = 0.036), cognitive impulsivity (p = 0.039), magic-type obsession (75% vs. 35.59%), and contamination obsession (87.50% vs. 67.80%). Conclusions: OOs frequently occur in the course of OCD, and their phenomenology is typical of this disorder. OOs are not a symptom of thought content disorders and are sensory in nature, which is not included in the definition of obsession. The presence of OOs in OCD provokes hostility and cognitive impulsivity. It can be assumed that the Olfactory Obsessions Questionnaire accurately identifies olfactory obsessions.

Long-term functional impairment in pediatric OCD after and during treatment: An analysis of distinct trajectories

The present study aimed to: (a) identify latent class trajectories of OCD-related functional impairment, before, during and over three years after stepped-care treatment in children and adolescents with OCD; (b) describe these classes according to pretreatment characteristics; (c) identify predictors of trajectory class membership and (d) examine the relationship of functional impairment trajectory classes with OCD symptom severity trajectory classes. The sample consisted of 266 children and adolescents (aged 7–17 years) with OCD, participating in the Nordic long-term OCD treatment study. Latent class growth analysis was conducted using Child Obsessive-Compulsive Impact Scale-Revised (COIS-R) data from children and parents on seven assessment points over a three-year period. A 3-class solution was identified. The largest class (70.7%) initiated treatment with lower functional impairment and obtained moderate reduction which was maintained over time. The second class (24.4%) initiated with higher functional impairment which rapidly diminished over time. The third and smallest class (4.9%), initiated with moderate functional impairment which remained stable over time. The classes differed on measures of OCD severity and comorbid symptoms. Most participants improved with treatment and maintained low levels of impairment. However, a subgroup distinguished by higher levels of ADHD symptoms, remained at pretreatment levels of impairment throughout.

538. Cognitive Control Predicts Alleviation of OCD Symptoms by Ketamine

538. Cognitive Control Predicts Alleviation of OCD Symptoms by Ketamine

Use of Selective Alternative Therapies for Treatment of OCD.

About 40% of the people with the obsessive-compulsive-disorder do not experience the desired outcome after the existing treatment, and its several side effects were reported. This systematic review was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of alternative drugs and assess the possibility of their use as treatment options for obsessive-compulsive-disorder. The Scientific databases PubMed, Science Direct, Google Scholar, Cochrane, Directory of Open Access Journals, MedRxiv and BioRxiv, were searched from inception to March 2022, using appropriate search strategies for each drug and following the Prisma guidelines 2020. Studies were selected according to the already set criteria and assessed for bias. Data were extracted, and descriptive and continuous data were analyzed and presented as frequency/percentage and mean. A total of 16 observational and interventional studies were included for data extraction. The studies focused on four drugs, Psilocybin (n=4), Cannabis (n=7), Nicotine (n=3), and Morphine (n=2), that were used to test out their effect on OCD symptoms. Overall, the majority of the studies showed promising results by documenting a reduction in Y-BOCS scores. However, few subjects, specifically those using nicotine or Cannabis, did not affect their condition or self-reported worsening symptoms. Few side effects were also noticed. This systematic review found that the drugs mostly showed a positive response. All Psilocybin and morphine users, 88.2% and 74.1% of the nicotine and Cannabis users, respectively, reported experiencing the positive effect of these drugs, indicating that these drugs have the potential to be used in the management of OCD. However, further research is required in this arena to thoroughly understand the mechanism of action by which these drugs produce their therapeutic effect. Policies to destigmatize and encourage clinical trials with these drugs are crucial for exploring the use of these drugs as a treatment option for OCD.

359 Utilization of machine learning approaches on multimodal and ambulatory data to predict individualized symptom course in adults with obsessive-compulsive disorder.

OBJECTIVES/GOALS: This study will collect multimodal and longitudinal data in adults with obsessive-compulsive disorder and healthy controls. A mixed effects random forest machine learning approach will be taken to develop a model that can predict individualized longitudinal OCD symptom burden. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: Baseline resting state functional MRI (rsfMRI) and measures of symptom burden will be collected in adults with OCD and healthy controls. Longitudinal measures of behavior and physiology–such as heart rate, activity, and sleep metrics - will be collected using Fitbit Charge 5 tracker. Daily assessments of symptom burden and functional status will be collected through a smartphone app. Individuals with OCD will start pharmacotherapy during the study period and all participants will be followed for a total of 10 weeks. Repeat rsfMRI imaging will occur at study conclusion. Data will be analyzed using a mixed effects random forest machine learning algorithm with assessment of model performance. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: Prior studies of symptom severity in psychiatric illness and affect in non-clinical populations have found longitudinal features - such as lexical and acoustic measures, participant context, heart rate, and sleep metrics–that were predictive of these states over time. It is anticipated that the present study will extend these results to individuals with OCD and identify physiologic and behavioral features that track personalized symptom burden longitudinally in this patient population. A model able to predict when symptoms are elevated could allow for provision of additional treatment or interventions targeted to times of high symptom burden. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE: This study will be the first to collect and analyze longitudinal measures of behavior, symptoms, and physiology in patients with OCD with a goal of predicting symptom burden. Identification of elevated symptom burden would allow for implementation of just-in-time treatment, during these periods.

FMRI neurofeedback leads to long-term symptomatic reduction in treatment-resistant patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder

Introduction Obsessive‐compulsive disorder (OCD) is a severe condition with a profound impact on the health, social and professional functioning of the patients. More than one third of the patients do not achieve remission of the symptoms after first‐line treatment with cognitive‐behavioral therapy and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor medication. Neurofeedback is a promising technique that allows the non‐invasive self‐regulation of neural activity associated with symptomatic manifestation. Previous literature reported preliminary evidence of positive effects of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) neurofeedback on OCD symptoms. However, these studies have small samples and/or were not controlled. Additionally, these studies did not involve treatment‐resistant patients. Objectives We aim at developing a fMRI neurofeedback task to treatment-resistant OCD patients and to explore the underlying brain changes. Methods We implemented a sham‐controlled double‐blinded fMRI neurofeedback protocol to target hyperactivity in orbitofrontal regions in treatment‐resistant OCD patients with contamination/cleaning symptoms. The protocol had two sessions of neurofeedback (72 min of total training). The patients included were under treatment‐as‐usual. Results Our preliminary results with the experimental group (n = 10 patients) demonstrated decreased OCD and stress symptoms three months after the neurofeedback sessions. Moreover, immediately after the neurofeedback sessions, we observed reduced functional connectivity between orbitofrontal and temporoparietal regions, and increased brain activity in dorsolateral prefrontal and premotor areas during symptomatic provocation. The brain functional changes might be associated with a better control over obsessions. Conclusions fMRI neurofeedback led to long-term symptomatic reduction in treatment-resistant patients with OCD. Our results need further validation with the sham‐control group but highlight the efficacy of fMRI neurofeedback for refractory OCD and the necessity of prolonged neurofeedback protocols. Disclosure of Interest None Declared

Obsessive-compulsive disorder after long-term cannabis use – case report

IntroductionObsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is characterised by intrusive thoughts and repetitive behaviours that considerably impact general functioning. Recent evidence links the endocannabinoid system to OCD neurobiology, and several case reports describe significant improvement after using dronabinol (synthetic tetrahydrocannabinol) in patients with severe OCD. Nevertheless, to what extent this new information can change our perspective on pharmacological treatment in OCD is unclear.Objectives We present the case of a patient with obsessive-compulsive symptoms triggered after increased long-term cannabis use. Our purpose is to emphasise the necessity of continuous research and a better understanding of the correlation between OCD and cannabis derivates before formulating treatment recommendations.MethodsWe used psychiatric assessments to evaluate the patient’s symptoms and evolution over time and exclude other possible causes that could have triggered the disorder.ResultsOur patient is a 37-year-old man who has been frequently brought to the hospital by the police in the last 11 years for psycho-motor agitation after cannabis use. This year, he came to the hospital by himself, complaining about intrusive thoughts that required motor and mental repetitions to reduce anxiety. His obsessions were mainly about the need for symmetry and exactness and his checking compulsions about his mother’s health. The symptoms required more than half a day and caused functional impairment. A detailed history did not outline any obsessive-compulsive symptoms before the previous year. The patient denies using new drugs, and we did not identify other medical conditions that could better explain the symptoms. However, he admits to increasing the doses and frequency of cannabis use during the last year. After two weeks of cannabis abstinence and Sertraline treatment, his symptomatology improved significantly, with a reduction of more than 50% in the time spent daily on mental and motor compulsions, reduced anxiety, and a noticeable increase in overall functionality. In addition, the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale result decreased from 35 on the first day to 17 on discharge.ConclusionsRecent studies support the use of cannabis derivates for treating OCD symptoms. However, this case report outlines that prolonged cannabis use could also trigger OCD. Therefore, further studies are necessary to identify not only the potential benefits but also the potential risks of using cannabinoids as a pharmacological intervention.ReferencesNicolini H et.al.CannabisUseInPeopleWithOC.FrontPsychiatry.2021May10; 12:664228.doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2021.664228.PMID:34040556;PMCID:PMC8141625KayserR.R. et.al.TheEndocannabinoidSystem:ANewTreatmentTargetforOCD? CannabisandCannabinoidResearch.Jun2019.7787.doi10.1089/can.2018.0049GoodmanWK et.al.1989.YBOCS:Archives of General Psychiatry,1006–1011.doi10.1001/archpsyc.1989.01810110048007Disclosure of InterestNone Declared

A network perspective on cognitive function and obsessive-compulsive related symptoms

BackgroundThe relationship between cognitive function and psychopathological symptoms has been an important research field in recent years. Previous studies have typically applied case-control designs to explore differences in certain cognitive variables. Multivariate analyses are needed to deepen our understanding of the intercorrelations among cognitive and symptom phenotypes in OCD. MethodsThe present study used network analysis to construct networks of cognitive variables and OCD-related symptoms in patients with OCD and healthy controls (N = 226), aiming to explore the relationship among numerous cognitive function variables and OCD-related symptoms in detail and compare the network features between the two groups. ResultsIn the network of cognitive function and OCD-related symptoms, nodes representing IQ, letter/number span test, accuracy of task switching test and obsession were much important in the network in terms of their larger strengths and edges. By constructing the networks of these two groups respectively, there was a strong similarity except that the symptom's network in healthy group had a higher degree of overall connectivity. LimitationsDue to the small sample size, the stability of the network cannot be guaranteed. Due to the cross-sectional nature of the data, we were unable to determine how the cognitive-symptom network would change with disease deterioration or treatment. ConclusionsThe present study highlights the important role of variables such as obsession and IQ from a network perspective. These results deepen our understanding of the multivariate relationship between cognitive dysfunction and OCD symptoms, and may promote the prediction and diagnosis of OCD.

Diagnosis and treatment options for pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorder associated with streptococcal infections (PANDAS): literature review

Marta Šaulytė¹, Julija Rugelytė¹, Alvydas Navickas¹, Kęstutis Kuzmickas¹, Rūta Praninskienė² ¹Vilnius University, Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius, Lithuania ²Vilnius University, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Clinic of Children’s Diseases, Vilnius, Lithuania Abstract Background. Recently, more and more information has become available on the association of neurological and psychiatric conditions with immune activation and inflammation of brain structures, such as pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorder associated with streptococcal infections (PANDAS). The exact prevalence and etiology of PANDAS are not known, but the development has been linked to a history of streptococcal infection and immune activation. Aim: to present the clinical presentation, diagnostic and therapeutic options for PANDAS based on the available scientific literature. Material and methods. A search of scientific articles was performed in PubMed database for the term ,,PANDAS“, in combination with ,,pathogenesis“, ,,symptoms“, ,,diagnosis“ and ,,treatment“ from 2004 to 2022. Inclusion criteria was represented by articles relevant to these searches. Exclusion criteria was represented by studies written in other languages than English and articles without free access. Results. The diagnostic criteria for PANDAS include (1) the presence of OCD symptoms or tics; (2) onset of symptoms in childhood before puberty; (3) sudden onset or exacerbation with an episodic (relapsing – remitting) course; (4) the association of onset/exacerbation of symptoms with a group A streptococcal infection; and (5) the association with other neuropsychiatric disorders. Significant symptom improvement was observed after specific treatment with antibiotics, intravenous immunoglobulin and plasmapheresis. The beneficial effect of NSAIDs and corticosteroids on the reduction of exacerbations is unquestionable. Conclusions. Diagnosis and treatment of PANDAS are challenging. Further large-scale controlled trials are needed to assess the effectiveness of treatment. Keywords. PANDAS, OCD, tic disorder. Full article https://doi.org/10.53453/ms.2023.2.3

The association between stressful experiences and OCD symptoms in young adults at transdiagnostic risk

BackgroundIt is unclear whether there is a specific association between stressful experiences and obsessive-compulsive symptoms or whether this relationship is due to stressful experiences increasing risk for psychopathology generally. AimsThe current study examined the association between stressful experiences and obsessive-compulsive symptom dimensions, while adjusting for coexisting psychiatric symptoms and psychological distress in a young adult transdiagnostic at-risk sample. MethodsForty-three participants completed self-report measures assessing obsessive-compulsive symptoms, stressful experiences, and a range of other psychiatric symptoms. Regression models examined the relationship between stressful experiences and different obsessive-compulsive symptoms dimensions (i.e., symmetry, fear of harm, contamination, and unacceptable thoughts), adjusting for the influence of coexisting psychiatric symptoms and psychological distress. ResultsThe results showed that there was an association between stressful experiences and obsessive-compulsive symptoms dimension of symmetry. Symptoms of borderline personality disorder were positively associated with the obsessive-compulsive symptom dimensions of symmetry and fear of harm symptoms. Symptoms of psychosis were found to be negatively associated with the obsessive-compulsive symptoms dimension of fear of harm. ConclusionsThese findings have implications for understanding the psychological mechanisms that underlie symmetry symptoms and highlight the need to study OCS dimensions separately to inform more precise, mechanism-targeted interventions.

A novel experimental investigation of online imagery rescripting for obsessive-compulsive prospective imagery

Emerging evidence suggests that rescripting intrusive mental imagery may reduce OCD symptoms. We tested whether a similar process could be adapted to an online experimental format. Amazon mTurk workers high in OCD traits (n = 198) were asked to identify OCD-related imagery of the future. They were then randomised to one of three audio-guided imagery conditions: rescripting, exposure, or a distracting control. We found that self-appraisals improved across all three conditions. Participants in the rescripting condition also reported greater reductions in aversive emotions, the vividness of their imagery, and their urge to neutralise the imagery, compared to those in the exposure condition. Results from the control condition were consistent with distraction. These experimental findings suggest that imagery rescripting in a standardised audio-guided format may facilitate emotional processing. Suggestions to improve on methodological limitations are discussed.

Steroid treatment response to post SARS-CoV-2 PANS symptoms: Case series.

Pediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome (PANS) is characterized by a wide spectrum of symptoms, including the onset of obsessive-compulsive disorder and/or severely restricted food intake, associated with emotional symptoms, behavioral symptoms, developmental regression, and somatic symptoms. Among the possible triggering agents, infectious agents have been extensively explored. More recently, sporadic case reports describe a possible association between PANS and SARS-CoV-2 infection but data on clinical presentation and treatment are still scarce. We describe a case series (10 children) with acute onset or relapse of PANS symptoms after SARS-CoV-2 infection. Standardized measures (CBCL, CPRS, C-GAS, CGI-S, Y-BOCS, PANSS, and YGTSS) were used to describe the clinical picture. The efficacy of a pulse treatment with steroids for three consecutive months was assessed. Our data suggest that the clinical presentation of the COVID-19-triggered PANS is largely similar to that reported in typical PANS, including acute onset, with OCD and/or eating disorders, and associated symptoms. Our data suggest that treatment with corticosteroids may be beneficial for both global clinical severity and global functioning. No serious adverse effects were observed. Both OCD symptoms and tics consistently improved. Among psychiatric symptoms, affective and oppositional symptoms appeared more sensitive to the steroid treatment than the other symptoms. Our study confirms that COVID-19 infection in children and adolescents could trigger acute-onset neuropsychiatric symptoms. Thus, in children and adolescents with COVID-19, a specific neuropsychiatric follow-up should be routinely included. Even if a small sample size and a follow-up with only two points (baseline and endpoint, after 8 weeks) limit the conclusions, it seems that steroid treatment in the acute phase may be beneficial and well tolerated.

Higher anxiety and perceived trauma among COVID-19 patients: a prospective comparative study

Background and purposePsychiatric disorders such as anxiety, depression, and traumatic stress are not rare during infectious outbreaks, as the COVID-19 pandemic has posed a great concern to the general population. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether experiencing psychiatric symptoms during COVID-19 is the result of the burden of carrying an illness or the COVID-19 itself.MethodTwo hundred ten subjects and three different groups of participants (COVID-19 patients, university staff, and orthopedic patients) were recruited. They answered a demographic questionnaire, Yale-Brown Obsessive–Compulsive Scale (YBOCS) test for OCD symptoms, Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) for perceived trauma, Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) for anxiety, and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) for depression assessments using phone or face-to-face interviews.ResultAt least one OCD symptom was observed in 85.7% of the subjects. However, there was no significant difference between the 3 groups (p = 0.2194). Perceived trauma was significantly higher among COVID-19 patients followed by university staff and orthopedic patients (23.73, 16.21, 11.51 mean IES-R scores respectively, p = 8.449e−14). COVID-19 patients also showed higher anxiety (mean BAI score: 17.00) than the university staff and orthopedic patients’ group (9.22 and 5.56 respectively) (p = 6.175e−08). BDI score did not show much variation for depression, the mean score was 9.66, 9.49, and 6.7 for the COVID-19 patients, university staff, and orthopedic patients respectively, (p = 0.2735).ConclusionPerceived trauma and anxiety symptoms are significantly higher in COVID-19 patients and the symptoms of OCD and depression do not differ between COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 people, so the necessity of screening and following treatment of patients with COVID-19 should be kept in mind.Trial registrationIR.IUMS.FMD.REC.1399.761.

The Relationship of OCD and OCD Symptoms with the Thought Action Fusion in Children and Adolescents during the Pandemic Period

The Relationship of OCD and OCD Symptoms with the Thought Action Fusion in Children and Adolescents during the Pandemic Period

Prevalence of Depressive, Anxiety, and OCD Symptoms among University Students in Singapore During COVID-19

Prevalence of Depressive, Anxiety, and OCD Symptoms among University Students in Singapore During COVID-19