Individual obsessive-compulsive traits are associated with poorer adjustment to the easing of COVID-19 restrictions

Abstract

Background As COVID-19 restrictions ease, the public are expected to relinquish previously enforced safety behaviors and resume a more normal lifestyle. Despite these aims, our recent survey of 438 adults from the general population, during a temporary release of lockdown in the United Kingdom (July–November 2020), showed that 25% of the public find re-adjustment problematic. This was especially the case in those with a history of mental disorder and obsessive-compulsive (OC) traits and symptoms, including rigidity as measured by a neurocognitive test of attentional flexibility. To aid in identifying those most at risk, we performed a secondary analysis on the data to determine which specific OC traits were related to specific aspects of behavioral adjustment. Methods Correlational and multiple regression analyses were performed to determine associations between the eight individual personality traits constituting DSM-5 Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD), as measured by the self-rated Compulsive Personality Assessment Scale (CPAS) and a range of self-rated Post-Pandemic Adjustment Questionnaire items. Results Three items on the Post-Pandemic Adjustment Questionnaire correlated with individual CPAS items: ‘General difficulties adjusting’ correlated with perfectionism, preoccupation with details, over-conscientiousness and need for control; ‘social avoidance’ correlated with perfectionism and preoccupation with details; and ‘disinfecting behaviors’ correlated with preoccupation with details and miserliness (Pearson's r - all p < .001). Intriguingly, none of the adjustment items correlated significantly with self-rated rigidity. Conclusions Several OCPD traits predict post-pandemic adjustment difficulties, but perfectionism and preoccupation-with-details showed the most robust correlations. These traits constitute a platform for the development of new screening and interventional strategies aimed at restoring public mental health and wellbeing. Cognitive rigidity may be more reliably evaluated using an objective form of assessment.

Prevalence of obsessive-compulsive symptoms and their psychosocial correlates among medical students during COVID-19 pandemic

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Factors associated with worsened clinical symptoms of psoriasis and disease-related quality of life during the COVID-19 lockdown: A cross-sectional study

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Investigating the correlation between perceived stress and health anxiety with obsessive–compulsive disorder and quality of life during COVID-19 pandemic

“…Since COVID-19 was declared as a pandemic by WHO with strict emphasis on washing and disinfection, reporting of patients with OCD and their difficulties were increased [ 10 ]. Recent works [ 11 , 12 ] have shown that individuals from general public experience difficulties to re-adjust to normal ways of living even after lockdown is released, and those with obsessive–compulsive (OC) symptoms and traits are disproportionally affected. Participants in Hassoulas et al's [ 13 ] study reported experiencing overwhelming fear and anxiety during the pandemic, leading to worsening in contamination-elated compulsive behaviors.…”