Mental Health Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders
Summary
The COVID-19 pandemic has exerted a profound influence on the course and expression of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), revealing a spectrum of responses from resilience to marked exacerbation. Heightened concerns about contamination and health safety aligned closely with pre-existing symptom themes for many patients, leading to a rise in washing and checking compulsions. Disrupted routines, social isolation and reduced access to face-to-face therapy further compounded the risk of symptom persistence and functional impairment. Yet not all individuals experienced deterioration: some demonstrated remarkable adaptability, drawing on remote treatment modalities and self-help strategies. Differences in age, gender and clinical profile emerged as important moderators of change, underlining the need for personalised interventions. Globally, the pandemic has catalysed advances in telehealth delivery and prompted a re-evaluation of public health messaging to avoid reinforcing maladaptive rituals. These insights carry practical implications for mental health policy, clinical training and the design of future outbreak-focused support programmes.
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Mental Health Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in mental health effects of the covid-19 pandemic on obsessive-compulsive disorders across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD): A mental health condition marked by persistent, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviours or mental acts (compulsions) aimed at reducing distress.
Obsession: Intrusive and recurrent thought, image or urge experienced as distressing and beyond voluntary control.
Compulsion: Repetitive behaviour or mental ritual performed in response to an obsession, often intended to prevent or neutralise perceived harm.
Peri-pandemic: The period during the active spread of COVID-19, encompassing initial outbreak through the implementation of major public health measures.
References
- A narrative systematic review of changes in mental health symptoms from before to during the COVID-19 pandemic. Psychological Medicine (2023).
- Effects of strict COVID-19 lockdown on patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder compared to a clinical and a nonclinical sample. European Psychiatry (2023).
- A closer look: obsessive-compulsive symptoms among intern nurses amidst COVID-19 pandemic. BMC Nursing (2024).
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