COVID-19 pandemic fears and obsessive-compulsive symptoms in adolescents with pre-existing mental disorders: An exploratory cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background: Previous research has established an association between pandemic fears and the development of obsessive-compulsive symptoms mainly in the general population. Aim: To explore whether COVID-19 pandemic fears are associated with obsessive-compulsive symptoms and vice versa in adolescents with preexisting mental and behavioural disorders. Methods: A questionnaire-based cross-sectional study among adolescents with pre-existing mental disorders. The extent of worrying related to the COVID-19 pandemic was measured using the COVID-19 inventory whereas obsessive-compulsive symptoms were assessed using the obsessive-compulsive inventory-revised (OCI-R). Pearson correlation coefficient ( r) was used to explore the relationship between COVID-19 pandemic fears and the development of obsessive-compulsive symptoms. Results: A total of 57 patients out of 63 participants (90.4%) had a COVID-19 inventory score of 12 or higher suggesting that a vast majority of young people with mental disorders had significant pandemic-related worries. Out of these 57 patients, over half (31) had an OCI-R modified score of 17 or higher indicating significant obsessive-compulsive symptoms. A positive correlation was found between the means of the two scores. This relationship was statistically significant – { r = 0.405, Sig. (two-tailed) = 0.001}. Conclusion: Adolescents with mental disorders can exhibit significant pandemic fears and this is likely to be associated with obsessive-compulsive symptoms.

Parental surveillance of OCD and mental health symptoms during COVID-19: A longitudinal study of Australian children, adolescents and families

“…It has been found that children with OCD experienced an exacerbation of contamination related symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic ( Tanir, 2020 ) and that children with long-term diagnoses of OCD experienced a worsening of symptoms compared to children with recent diagnoses ( Nissen et al, 2020 ). A study investigating the impact of COVID-19 fears on OCD symptoms in adolescents with pre-existing mental disorders found that 90.4% of participants had significant worries and over half of these participants reported indicators of OCD symptoms ( Khan et al, 2021 ). Research is emerging regarding the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on MH, however, a systematic review conducted in December 2020 found only 19 papers were sufficiently rigorous to measure changes in MH due to COVID-19 and none included child populations ( Newlove-Delgado et al, 2021 ).…”

“…Although valuable findings have been reported in these studies, limited research has explored the paediatric experience of OCD symptoms in the context of the pandemic, particularly from a longitudinal perspective. Given the increase of MH symptoms from the COVID-19 pandemic in children, and studies such as Khan et al (2021) demonstrating a link between pre-existing general mental health increasing OCD symptoms, not only will the current study focus on OCD diagnosed individuals, but also explore the possible increase of symptoms across other MH diagnosed groups and healthy groups.…”

Hand Washing: When Ritual Behavior Protects! Obsessive–Compulsive Symptoms in Young People during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Narrative Review

“…Khan et al’s [ 78 ] exploratory, cross-sectional study considered adolescents with different mental disorders (i.e., neurodevelopmental, disruptive, impulse control, and conduct disorders; mood and anxiety disorders; OCD) at the Community Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) at Hamad Medical Corporation in Qatar. CAMHS is Qatar’s only community-based medical service for children and young people below the age of 18 years with moderate to severe mental and behavioral disorders.…”

The Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Individuals With Pre-existing Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder in the State of Qatar: An Exploratory Cross-Sectional Study

“…We set out to study this subset of the affected population as the main strategy for the control of the pandemic has been an emphasis on the prevention of the spread of infection by avoiding close contact and ritualistic hand hygiene measures ( 20 ). While a necessary measure, it has resulted in an increase in fears of contamination in the general public and vulnerable populations triggering obsessive-compulsive type symptoms fuelled by fears of contamination ( 21 , 22 ). Two of the four main symptom domains of OCD are the fear of contamination and washing rituals ( 29 ).…”

“…There are limited studies looking at the impact of the pandemic on OCD in the Arab world. Khan et al explored the association of pandemic with obsessive-compulsive symptoms in adolescents with preexisting mental and behavioral disorders in Qatar and reports significant pandemic fears associated with obsessive-compulsive symptoms ( 22 ).…”