TY - JOUR PY - 2021// TI - How is COVID-19 affecting patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder? A longitudinal study on the initial phase of the pandemic in a Spanish cohort JO - European psychiatry A1 - Alonso, P. A1 - Bertolín, S. A1 - Segalàs, J. A1 - Tubío-Fungueiriño, M. A1 - Real, E. A1 - Mar-Barrutia, L. A1 - Fernández-Prieto, M. A1 - Carvalho, S. A1 - Carracedo, A. A1 - Menchón, J. M. SP - e45 EP - e45 VL - 64 IS - 1 N2 - BACKGROUND: Although the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on emotional health are evident, little is known about its impact on patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). METHODS: One hundred and twenty-seven patients with OCD who attended a specialist OCD Clinic in Barcelona, Spain, were assessed by phone from April 27 to May 25, 2020, during the early phase of the pandemic, using the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS) and a structured interview that collected clinical and sociodemographic information.

RESULTS were compared with those for 237 healthy controls from the same geographic area who completed an online survey. RESULTS: Although 65.3% of the patients with OCD described a worsening of their symptoms, only 31.4% had Y-BOCS scores that increased >25%. The risk of getting infected by SARS-CoV2 was reported as a new obsession by 44.8%, but this only became the main obsessive concern in approximately 10% of the patients. Suicide-related thoughts were more frequent among the OCD cohort than among healthy controls. The presence of prepandemic depression, higher Y-BOCS scores, contamination/washing symptoms, and lower perceived social support all predicted a significantly increased risk of OCD worsening. CONCLUSIONS: Most patients with OCD appear to be capable of coping with the emotional stress of the COVID-19 outbreak and its consequences during the initial phase of the pandemic. Nevertheless, the current crisis constitutes a risk factor for a significant worsening of symptoms and suicidal ideation. Action is needed to ensure effective and individualized follow-up care for patients with OCD in the COVID-19 era.

Language: en

LA - en SN - 0924-9338 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1192/j.eurpsy.2021.2214 ID - ref1 ER -