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Review
. 2022 Apr:33:100722.
doi: 10.1016/j.jocrd.2022.100722. Epub 2022 Feb 18.

Obsessive compulsive disorder during the COVID-19 pandemic: A brief review of course, psychological assessment and treatment considerations

Caitlyn E Maye  1 , Katharine D Wojcik  1 , Abigail E Candelari  1 , Wayne K Goodman  1 , Eric A Storch  1
Affiliations
Review

Obsessive compulsive disorder during the COVID-19 pandemic: A brief review of course, psychological assessment and treatment considerations

Caitlyn E Maye et al. J Obsessive Compuls Relat Disord. 2022 Apr.

Abstract

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is an impairing mental health condition defined by intense distress in the presence of unwanted, recurrent thoughts, images, or impulses which are accompanied by compulsions and avoidance performed to reduce distress. During the COVID-19 pandemic, OCD has continued to be an impairing mental health condition regardless of symptom dimensionality (e.g., contamination, harm, etc.) with varying reports of the overall clinical course. However, changes in the assessment, treatment, and diagnosis of OCD have occurred to personalize care and be aligned with public health guidelines. Exposure and response prevention and pharmacotherapy remain the treatment of choice, even though the setting in which treatment is conducted may have shifted. Telehealth in particular has been a 'game-changer' for clinicians and patients alike. Given the continued health risk posed by the pandemic, treatment personalization should still be made to ensure safety for both patients and providers while balancing efficacy and patient preferences.

Keywords: Assessment; COVID-19; Cognitive-behavioral therapy; Exposure and response prevention; Obsessive-compulsive disorder; Treatment.

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Conflict of interest statement

Ms. Maye, Dr. Wojcik, and Dr. Candelari report no disclosures. Dr. Goodman has received research support from Brainsway, Biohaven Pharmaceutics and the NIH; Medtronic donated devices to a research project; and he received consulting fees from Biohaven and Neurocrine Biosciences. Dr. Eric Storch receives grant support from NIH, the Ream Foundation, Greater Houston Community Foundation, International OCD Foundation, and Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. He receives book royalties from Elsevier, Springer, American Psychological Association, Jessica Kingsley, Oxford, and Lawrence Erlbaum. He holds stock in NView, where he serves on the clinical advisory board. He was a consultant for Levo Therapeutics, and is currently a consultant for Biohaven Pharmaceuticals and Brainsway. He co-founded and receives payment from Rethinking Behavioral Health, which is a consulting firm that provides support for implementing evidence-based psychological treatment strategies. Given their role as an Editorial Board Member, Storch E.A. and as an Associate Editor, Goodman W.K. had no involvement in the peer-review of this article, including access to information regarding its peer-review.

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