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COVID-19 Pandemic and Mental Health: Prevalence and Correlates of New-Onset Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms in a Canadian Province

Author

Listed:
  • Adam Abba-Aji

    (Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2B7, Canada
    Addiction and Mental Health, Alberta Health Services, Edmonton, AB T5K 2J5, Canada)

  • Daniel Li

    (Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2B7, Canada
    Addiction and Mental Health, Alberta Health Services, Edmonton, AB T5K 2J5, Canada)

  • Marianne Hrabok

    (Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2B7, Canada
    Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4Z6, Canada)

  • Reham Shalaby

    (Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2B7, Canada)

  • April Gusnowski

    (Addiction and Mental Health, Alberta Health Services, Edmonton, AB T5K 2J5, Canada)

  • Wesley Vuong

    (Addiction and Mental Health, Alberta Health Services, Edmonton, AB T5K 2J5, Canada)

  • Shireen Surood

    (Addiction and Mental Health, Alberta Health Services, Edmonton, AB T5K 2J5, Canada)

  • Nnamdi Nkire

    (Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2B7, Canada
    Addiction and Mental Health, Alberta Health Services, Edmonton, AB T5K 2J5, Canada)

  • Xin-Min Li

    (Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2B7, Canada)

  • Andrew J. Greenshaw

    (Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2B7, Canada
    APEC Digital Hub for Mental Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada)

  • Vincent I.O. Agyapong

    (Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2B7, Canada
    Addiction and Mental Health, Alberta Health Services, Edmonton, AB T5K 2J5, Canada)

Abstract

Background : This cross-sectional online survey investigates the prevalence of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) symptoms at an early stage of the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada. Methods : OCD symptoms, moderate/high stress, likely generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and likely major depressive disorder (MDD) were assessed with the Brief Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (BOCS), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item (GAD-7) scale, and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) scale, respectively. Results : Out of 32,805 individuals subscribed to Text4Hope, 6041 completed an online survey; the response rate was 18.4%. Overall, 60.3% of respondents reported onset of OCD symptoms and 53.8% had compulsions to wash hands during the COVID-19 pandemic. Respondents who showed OCD symptoms only since the start of COVID-19 were significantly more likely to have moderate/high stress (z = 6.4, p < 0.001), likely GAD (z = 6.0, p < 0.001), and likely MDD (z = 2.7, p < 0.01). Similarly, respondents who engaged in compulsive hand washing were significantly more likely to have moderate/high stress (z = 4.6, p < 0.001) and likely GAD (z = 4.6 p < 0.001), but not likely MDD (z = 1.4, p = 0.16). Conclusion : The prevalence of OCD symptoms increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, at a rate significantly higher than pre-pandemic rates reported for the sample population. Presenting with OCD symptoms increased the likelihood of presenting with elevated stress, likely GAD, and likely MDD.

Suggested Citation

  • Adam Abba-Aji & Daniel Li & Marianne Hrabok & Reham Shalaby & April Gusnowski & Wesley Vuong & Shireen Surood & Nnamdi Nkire & Xin-Min Li & Andrew J. Greenshaw & Vincent I.O. Agyapong, 2020. "COVID-19 Pandemic and Mental Health: Prevalence and Correlates of New-Onset Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms in a Canadian Province," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(19), pages 1-11, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:19:p:6986-:d:418561
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Cuiyan Wang & Riyu Pan & Xiaoyang Wan & Yilin Tan & Linkang Xu & Cyrus S. Ho & Roger C. Ho, 2020. "Immediate Psychological Responses and Associated Factors during the Initial Stage of the 2019 Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Epidemic among the General Population in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(5), pages 1-25, March.
    2. Nicola Magnavita & Giovanni Tripepi & Reparata Rosa Di Prinzio, 2020. "Symptoms in Health Care Workers during the COVID-19 Epidemic. A Cross-Sectional Survey," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(14), pages 1-15, July.
    3. Sijia Li & Yilin Wang & Jia Xue & Nan Zhao & Tingshao Zhu, 2020. "The Impact of COVID-19 Epidemic Declaration on Psychological Consequences: A Study on Active Weibo Users," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(6), pages 1-9, March.
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    Cited by:

    1. Wuqianhui Liu & Haitao Zhang & Yuan He, 2021. "Variation in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Symptoms and Treatments: A Side Effect of COVID-19," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(14), pages 1-12, July.
    2. Medard Kofi Adu & Lauren J. Wallace & Kwabena F. Lartey & Joshua Arthur & Kenneth Fosu Oteng & Samuel Dwomoh & Ruth Owusu-Antwi & Rita Larsen-Reindorf & Vincent I. O. Agyapong, 2021. "Prevalence and Correlates of Likely Major Depressive Disorder among the Adult Population in Ghana during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(13), pages 1-19, July.
    3. Nnamdi Nkire & Reham Shalaby & Gloria Obuobi-Donkor & Belinda Agyapong & Ejemai Eboreime & Vincent I. O. Agyapong, 2023. "Assessing Resilience and Its Correlates among Residents of Fort McMurray during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(12), pages 1-13, June.

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