Covid-19 Pandemic and Worsening of OCD Symptoms in an Adolescent

Abstract

Background: Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a chronic and debilitating psychiatric condition. It is characterized by recurrent and persistent intrusive thoughts, urges or images (obsessions) and/or, repetitive behaviors or mental acts (compulsions) in response to the intrusive thoughts. The prevalence of OCD in childhood ranges from 0.5%-3%. It is thought that psychosocial stressors and trauma may worsen OCD symptoms. The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent quarantine measures have been shown to cause stress and to be associated with a negative impact on psychiatric disorders. Although there is literature describing worsening of OCD and other psychiatric conditions in adults, little has been written about the worsening of obsessions and compulsions in children and adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic. We report a case of worsening obsessive compulsive disorder symptoms in an adolescent during the COVID-19 pandemic which responded well to a therapeutic dose of sertraline.