Obsessive-compulsive disorder during the COVID-19 pandemic

The testing for COVID-19 in symptomatic patients as a protective factor against stress, anxiety, and depression

“…18 The stress subscale is composed by questions 1, 6, 8, 11, 12, 14, and 18, that describes normal symptoms (if scored between 0-14), mild signs and symptoms (15)(16)(17)(18), moderate (19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25), severe (26)(27)(28)(29)(30)(31)(32)(33) and extreme (>33). Similar to that, the anxiety subscale is composed by the questions 2, 4, 7, 9, 15, 19 and 20, that describes normal symptoms (if scored between 0-7), mild signs and symptoms (8-9) moderate (10)(11)(12)(13)(14), severe (15)(16)(17)(18)(19) and extreme (>19). Following this pattern, the depression subscale is composed by questions 3, 5, 10, 13, 16, 17 and 21, that describes normal symptoms (if scored between 0-9), mild signs and symptoms (10)(11)(12)(13), moderate (14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20), severe (21)(22)(23)(24)(25)…”

“…Similar to that, the anxiety subscale is composed by the questions 2, 4, 7, 9, 15, 19 and 20, that describes normal symptoms (if scored between 0-7), mild signs and symptoms (8-9) moderate (10)(11)(12)(13)(14), severe (15)(16)(17)(18)(19) and extreme (>19). Following this pattern, the depression subscale is composed by questions 3, 5, 10, 13, 16, 17 and 21, that describes normal symptoms (if scored between 0-9), mild signs and symptoms (10)(11)(12)(13), moderate (14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20), severe (21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27)) and extreme (>27). 19 A database was created to submit the data collected to cleaning and consistency tests, in which variables were obtained and data errors were corrected.…”

“…11 In some cases, the anxiety related to the absence of information about the health state and the need of frequent body temperature checking and hand sanitization were associated with the development or intensification of compulsive-obsessive symptoms. 12,13 Despite some countries that have already controlled the COVID-19 crisis, the pandemic has seriously affected the Americas, where the number of new cases and deaths increases daily. One of the most affected countries is Brazil, who must deal with the sub-notification of cases and deaths, due to the shortage of COVID-19 diagnostic tests.…”

Coping strategies in obsessive-compulsive patients during Covid-19 lockdown

“…Fear of disease and contagion together with prevention and safety behaviors, such as hand washing, physical distancing, avoidance of stimuli and situations, hypervigilance to somatic sensations, economic problems, reductions in social interaction may increase the risk of serious and disabling mental health conditions, such as anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive- compulsive disorder (OCD) ( Fiorillo and Gorwood, 2020 , Fontenelle and Miguel, 2020 , Pozza et al, 2020 , Silva et al, 2020 ). The uncontrollable and unpredictable nature of COVID-19 has likely led to extraordinary stress in the general population.…”

“…It is important to take into account variables both of the stressor itself (frequency, duration, type, number, control) and the individual's abilities to cope ( Monroe et al, 2007 ). Focusing on OCD, the elements of containment of the pandemic will produce reinforcement of obsessive thinking and compulsive behavior and exacerbation of symptoms ( Fineberg et al, 2020 , Rivera and Carballea, 2020 , Silva et al, 2020 ). These symptoms have been reported following previous epidemics such as SARS, MERS, etc.…”