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. 2021 Oct 6;23(11):71.
doi: 10.1007/s11920-021-01284-2.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder During the COVID-19 Pandemic: a Systematic Review

Andrew G Guzick  1 , Abigail Candelari  2 , Andrew D Wiese  2 , Sophie C Schneider  2 , Wayne K Goodman  2 , Eric A Storch  2
Affiliations

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder During the COVID-19 Pandemic: a Systematic Review

Andrew G Guzick et al. Curr Psychiatry Rep. .

Abstract

Purpose of review: This systematic review evaluated the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on obsessive-compulsive symptoms.

Recent findings: Most studies showed that obsessive-compulsive symptoms worsened during the early stages of the pandemic, particularly for individuals with contamination-related obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), though other symptoms dimensions were found to worsen as well. Many patients and individuals in the general population experienced new obsessive-compulsive-like symptoms centered on COVID-19. Self-reported rates of symptom exacerbation and COVID-19-focused symptoms were consistently lower in studies that recruited patients from specialty clinics (compared to online samples). Most studies were conducted in Spring/Summer, 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic has been an enormous stressor for individuals with OCD, especially for those with contamination symptoms. Regardless, there is strong reason to believe gold standard treatment approaches for OCD have maintained strong efficacy. Disseminating and effectively delivering evidence-based treatments for OCD is an urgent public health priority.

Keywords: Cognitive-behavioral therapy; Contamination; Exposure and response prevention; OCD; Serotonin reuptake inhibitors.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
PRISMA 2020 flow diagram: OCD and COVID-19. From: Page MJ, McKenzie JE, Bossuyt PM, Boutron I, Hoffmann TC, Mulrow CD, et al. The PRISMA 2020 statement: an updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews. BMJ 2021;372:n71. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.n71. For more information, visit: http://www.prisma-statement.org/
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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