Obsessive Compulsive Disorder During Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): 2- and 6-Month Follow-Ups in a Clinical Trial

BACKGROUND: Psychiatric patients are perceived to be especially vulnerable during a pandemic, as it increases stress and uncertainty. Several current publications have considered obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) patients to be particularly vulnerable during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and clinicians were advised to adjust treatments accordingly. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the 2- and 6-month impacts of COVID-19 on the symptom severity of OCD patients. METHODS: A cohort of OCD patients actively treated with Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) combined with pharmacological treatment was evaluated as part of their regular psychiatric assessment twice: 113 patients were evaluated at their 2-month follow-up and 90 patients (from that cohort) were evaluated at their 6-month follow up. RESULTS: Obsessive-compulsive symptom deterioration was not present in 84% of the patients at the 2-month follow-up and 96% of the patients at the 6-month follow-up. The results were also replicated in the OCD subgroup that included patients with contamination (washers) and illness obsessions, who were believed to be particularly vulnerable considering their obsessional content. CONCLUSIONS: OCD patients (including those with obsessions related to contamination and health) who were under active ERP and pharmacological treatment did not experience exacerbated symptoms during COVID-19 at their 2- and 6-month follow-ups.