The COVID-19 pandemic and obsessive-compulsive disorder in young people: Systematic review
File(s)
Accepted version
Author(s)
Cunning, Catherine
Hodes, Matthew
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the world since the first cases were reported in China in January 2020. The secondary mental health impacts of the pandemic are thought to be significant. Obsessive-compulsive disorder is a condition defined by recurrent obsessions and compulsions. It has been hypothesised that the focus on hygiene and contamination during the pandemic could exacerbate obsessive-compulsive symptoms in young people. METHOD: A systematic literature review was conducted. Papers were sought looking at the effect of the pandemic on obsessive-compulsive disorder in young people. RESULTS: Six published cross-sectional and longitudinal studies were identified, of which four studies investigated clinic samples with a diagnosis of obsessive-compulsive disorder and two looked at community adolescent populations. Five out of the six studies found that obsessive-compulsive symptoms were exacerbated during the COVID-19 pandemic. CONCLUSION: The COVID-19 pandemic appears to be associated with a worsening of obsessive-compulsive symptoms in young people. Being in treatment seems to have a protective effect. Maintaining mental health services during a pandemic is vital. It is important to be aware of the implications of pandemic on obsessive-compulsive symptoms in young people in order to allow them to access appropriate treatments. More research is needed in this area.
Date Issued
2022-01-01
Date Acceptance
2021-06-01
Citation
Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 2022, 27 (1), pp.18-34
ISSN
1359-1045
Publisher
SAGE Publications
Start Page
18
End Page
34
Journal / Book Title
Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry
Volume
27
Issue
1
Copyright Statement
© The Author(s) 2021. The final, definitive version of this paper has been published in Cunning C, Hodes M. The COVID-19 pandemic and obsessive–compulsive disorder in young people: Systematic review. Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry. June 2021 by Sage Publications Ltd. All rights reserved. It is available at: https://doi.org/10.1177/13591045211028169
Identifier
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/34171975
Subjects
COVID-19
Obsessive–compulsive disorder
adolescent health
child health
obsessive–compulsive symptoms
pandemic
Publication Status
Published
Coverage Spatial
England
Date Publish Online
2021-06-25