OCD and COVID-19: a new frontier.

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Clinical Psychology
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) patients exhibit increased vulnerability to COVID-19's mental health consequences.
• The COVID-19 pandemic presents unique challenges in identifying and treating OCD.

Purpose of the Study:

• To guide clinicians in identifying OCD amidst COVID-19.
• To explore modifications in OCD presentation and Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) during the pandemic.
• To provide expert consensus on continuing CBT for OCD remotely.

Main Methods:

• Expert clinician perspectives on OCD identification and CBT during COVID-19.
• Discussion of modified exposure tasks and behavioral experiments.
• Consideration of viral load and patient vulnerability factors.

Main Results:

• Remote CBT for OCD is recommended, with exceptions for increased risk or inability to conduct essential therapeutic tasks.
• Therapists and patients must carefully assess risks for exposure and behavioral experiments.
• Special attention is needed for young people and perinatal women.

Conclusions:

• CBT for OCD can be adapted for remote delivery during the pandemic.
• Risk-benefit analysis is crucial for exposure and behavioral experiments.
• Long-term implications for OCD patients post-pandemic require consideration.