Worldwide prevalence of obsessive-compulsive symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

During the COVID-19 pandemic governments worldwide implemented contagion-containing measures (i.e., physical distancing, hand sanitizing, mask wearing and quarantine). The similarities between these measures and obsessive-compulsive phenomenology (e.g., contamination concerns and repetitive washing and/or checking) led to inquiries about the frequency with which obsessive-compulsive symptoms (OCS) were encountered during the COVID-19 pandemic. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to ascertain the prevalence of OCS in individuals of any age during the pandemic (i.e., any obsessive-compulsive symptoms that are clinically significant as shown by a score above the cut-off score of a scale, without necessarily fulfilling the diagnostic threshold for a diagnosis of OCD). A systematic search of relevant databases identified 35 studies, which were included in the systematic review following our inclusion and exclusion criteria. Most of the studies were conducted in adults from the general population and adopted an online assessment method, with 32 studies being eligible for meta-analysis. The meta-analysis resulted in a 20% average prevalence of OCS during the pandemic, with very high heterogeneity among the included studies (I2 99.6%). The highest prevalence of OCS was found in pregnant women (36%, n = 5), followed by individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 (22%, n = 4) and general population (22%, n = 19), undergraduates (21%, n = 5), and healthcare workers (5%, n = 5). The prevalence rates of OCS were higher in Asia (26%, n = 17) and North America (25%, n = 3) than in Europe (13%, n = 12) and Africa (7%, n = 4). Among the studies included, rates appeared higher in certain countries, though this difference did not reach statistical significance and was limited by very few studies conducted in certain countries. When compared to pre-pandemic rates, there seemed to be higher rates of OCS during the COVID-19 pandemic in Asia, Europe, and pregnant women. These findings are discussed considering the impact of the pandemic and contagion-containing measures on the perception and reporting of OCS, and susceptibility of the vulnerable population groups to experiencing OCS during the pandemic.

Longitudinal Course of Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms During the Covid-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review of Three Years of Prospective Cohort Studies.

Objective: During the pandemic, there has been a slight increase in obsessive-compulsive symptoms in both clinical and non-clinical samples. Three years after the pandemic, we conducted the first systematic review of prospective cohort studies assessing temporal changes in obsessive-compulsive symptoms and their extent in both patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and community samples, regardless of age or socio-cultural background, during any phase of the pandemic. Method: Prospective cohort studies were included if validated self-report questionnaires or standardized interviews for obsessive-compulsive symptoms were used. Studies that enrolled OCD patients were included if OCD was diagnosed before the outbreak of the pandemic. The following were our exclusion criteria: cross-sectional and case-control studies, single case studies, editorials, commentaries, and reviews. Studies assessing the effectiveness of an intervention were excluded. Results: 15 studies were included. Overall, studies showed a small upsurge in obsessive-compulsive symptoms, especially washing/contamination symptoms, during the coronavirus outbreak. The severity of symptoms seemed to follow the pattern of restriction measures and the increase in the number of COVID-19 cases. Conclusions: Factors contributing to the worsening of obsessive-compulsive symptoms during the pandemic were discussed.

Severity and Changes in OCD Dimensions during COVID-19: A Two-Year Longitudinal Study.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic appears to be associated with a worsening of obsessive-compulsive symptoms in both young people and adults with OCD and it is necessary to analyze the variables involved in this worsening over time. The main aim of this study was to examine long-term changes in total severity and obsessive-compulsive dimensions in obsessive-compulsive patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHOD: A total 250 OCD patients were selected from various associations, clinical centers and hospitals. We discarded 75 as they did not meet the inclusion criteria. A total of 175 obsessive-compulsive participants aged between 16 and 58 years old (M = 33.33, SD = 9.42) were evaluated in obsessive-compulsive symptom severity and dimensions OCD assessed using the Y-BOCS and D-YBOCS scales in T1 (April-June 2020) and in T2 (March-April 2022). The evaluation was carried out through an online survey and face-to-face with a professional clinician at both time points. RESULTS: Intragroup differences in severity were observed, reaching higher scores for patients with contamination, somatic, aggressive and religious. Some patients changed their main dimension, increasing the percentage of patients with contamination and somatic obsessions. CONCLUSIONS: COVID-19 was associated with both changes in severity and also affected some dimensions more than others, particularly those related to the virus itself (contamination and somatic).

Mindfulness-based psychotherapy in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder: A meta-analytical Study.

Background/Objective: Obsessive compulsive disorder is a disorder of special relevance in mental health, however, not all patients respond adequately to traditional intervention systems. The present work aims to study the usefulness of mindfulness-based interventions in patients with obsessive compulsive disorder. Method: An exhaustive search of the literature between 1996 and 2021 allowed us to locate 11 published articles. The effect size was the pretest-posttest standardized mean change calculated for obsession-compulsion, as well as depression symptoms and conscious coping. Results: he results showed mean effect sizes for mindfulness in the reduction of obsessive-compulsive symptoms (d + = 0.648) and, to a lesser extent, depression (d + = 0.417) and the improvement in Mindfull coping (d + = 0.509). There was no significant decrease in effect size when mindfulness was applied in patients with residual symptoms from previous treatments. Conclusions: These results are promising regarding the usefulness of the application of intervention programs based on mindfulness in people with obsessive compulsive disorder, both as an alternative option and as a complementary treatment to more traditional intervention formats.

The Relationship Between Problematic Internet Use, WhatsApp and Personality.

The manner and frequency of Internet use may reflect the needs, preferences, values, personal motivations and personality characteristics of users. The aim of this research was to analyse the relationship between the Big Five Personality factors and impulsivity with Problematic Internet Use and the Negative Impact of WhatsApp. The sample consisted of 630 university students (75.7% female) aged between 18 and 62 years (M = 21.23). The results indicated that the Big Five Personality factors and impulsivity correlated significantly with Problematic Internet Use and the Negative Impact of WhatsApp. Impulsivity proved to be the most important predictor of Problematic Internet Use and the Negative Impact of WhatsApp. It can be concluded, cautiously, that impulsive people have a greater predisposition to develop Problematic Internet Use and, also to experience a greater negative impact due to the use of WhatsApp.

Response Inhibition, Cognitive Flexibility and Working Memory in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Social Anxiety Disorder.

This study analyzed response inhibition, cognitive flexibility and working memory in three groups of patients diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder, social anxiety disorder and generalized anxiety disorder, considering some variables that may influence results (nonverbal reasoning, comorbidity, use of pharmacotherapy). Neuropsychological measures were completed using a computerized Wisconsin card sorting test, Stroop color word test, go/no-go task, digits and Corsi. Significant differences were obtained among groups in cognitive flexibility and working memory variables. The obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) group showed the worst results. The social anxiety disorder group obtained greater effect sizes in visuospatial memory. However, significant differences between groups in visuospatial memory were no longer present when nonverbal reasoning was controlled. Comorbidity influenced interference in the OCD and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) groups. In addition, the executive functions were differently influenced by the level of obsessions and anxiety, and the use of pharmacotherapy. Study limitations include a non-random selection of participants, modest sample size and design type (cross-sectional). The OCD group showed the worst results in flexibility cognitive and verbal working memory. Comorbidity, use of pharmacotherapy and level anxiety and obsessions were variables influencing the performance of executive functions.

Integrating family therapy into exposure-based CBT for a Spanish patient with obsessive scrupulosity.

Obsessive-compulsive symptom profiles vary widely among individuals and may be affected by cultural backgrounds. In the case of scrupulosity, moral and religious principles are the target of obsessive-compulsive symptoms. Cognitive biases and beliefs have special relevance in the origin and maintenance of obsessive scrupulosity. In addition, rigid and exaggerated beliefs about morality are held by these patients. Moral and religious principles are mainly transmitted by family. These influences may be more prominent in cultures, such as the Spanish culture, where family and religion are important values for individuals. The authors describe the treatment of a Spanish patient with obsessive scrupulosity. Family therapy strategies were integrated into exposure-based CBT in order to facilitate the modification of beliefs, behaviors, and pathological family relationships. The patient exhibited clinically significant improvements in OCD symptoms. Findings from this case show the need for individualized interventions that take into consideration cultural, social, and family factors.

[Psychological treatment of physical maltreatment and negligence in children and adolescents: a meta-analysis]. / Tratamiento psicológico del maltrato físico y la negligencia en niños y adolescentes: un meta-análisis.

The results of a meta-analysis about the efficacy of psychological treatment for children who have suffered physical maltreatment and neglect by their parents or tutors are presented. Sixteen studies that met our selection criteria were included, providing 22 treated groups and 8 control groups. The results showed an absence of clear differences among the diverse treatments, although all of them exhibited a low-to-medium practical significance. The longer they are, the more effective are the treatments and also when neglect was the type of maltreatment suffered by the children. The effect estimates do not seem to be affected by biases. Finally, the clinical implications of the results, as well as those for future research, are discussed.

Psychometric properties of the Social Phobia and Anxiety Inventory for Children in a Spanish sample.

The objectives of the present study were to adapt and analyze the factor structure, reliability, and validity of the Social Phobia and Anxiety Inventory for Children (SPAI-C; Beidel, Turner, & Morris, 1995) in a Spanish population. The SPAI-C was applied to a sample of 1588 children and adolescents with ages ranging from 10 to 17 years. The confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) showed a four-factor structure: Public performance, Assertiveness, Fear and avoidance/escape in social encounters, and Cognitive and psychophysiological interferences. Internal consistency was high (.90) and test-retest reliability was moderate (.56). Significant differences were found in the variables sex and age, although the effect size was small in both variables and their interaction. Overall, the increase of the age value was inversely proportional to that of social anxiety measured with the SPAI-C; in participants of the same age, values were higher for girls than for boys. Results suggest that the Social Phobia and Anxiety Inventory For Children is a valid and reliable instrument to assess social anxiety in Spanish children and adolescents.

The social phobia and anxiety inventory: first results of its reliability and structural validity in chilean adolescents / Inventario de ansiedad y fobia social: primeros resultados de fiabilidad y validez estructural en una muestra de adolescentes chilenos

En el presente estudio examinamos la fiabilidad y validez estructural de la versión chilena del ?Inventario de ansiedad y fobia social? (Social Phobia and Anxiety Inventary, SPAI; Turner, Beidel, Dancu y Stanley, 1989)), utilizando una muestra de 1040 adolescentes no clínicos (rango de edad entre 13 y 18 años). El análisis de validez estructural indicó la existencia de dos subescalas (Fobia Social y Agorafobia) claramente diferenciadas que explicaban un 43.4% de la varianza. Los índices de fiabilidad obtenidos fueron muy altos en cada una de las subescalas. A pesar de que se encontraron diferencias significativas debidas al sexo en ambas subescalas, los tamaños del efecto fueron muy bajos. Por otro lado, la variable edad resulta significativa en el subescala fobia social pero no en agorafobia, siendo igualmente la magnitud del efecto muy baja. Los resultados, en general, aportan evidencia empírica a favor de la fiabilidad y la validez de la versión chilena del Inventario de Ansiedad y Fobia Social.

In this report we examined the reliability and structural validity of the Chilean version of the Social Phobia and Anxiety Inventory, SPAI, (Turner, Beidel, Dancu y Stanley, 1989), using a sample of 1040 non clinical Chilean adolescents (range of age between 13 and 18 years). The structural validity analysis indicated the existence of two, clearly differentiated, subscales (Social Phobia and Agoraphobia) that explained 43.4% of the variance. The alpha reliability coefficients were very high in each one of the subscales. In spite of finding significant differences, for sex in both scales, the effect size was small. On the other hand, the age variable was significant in the social phobia scale but not in the agoraphobia one, but again the effect size was small. In general the results offer empirical evidence in support of the reliability and validity of the Chilean version of the Social Phobia and Anxiety Inventory.

El papel de la planificación de la interacción en el tratamiento de adolescentes con fobia social generalizada / The role of planned interaction in the treatment of generalized social phobia

El objetivo de este estudio es analizar la influencia de la interacción planificada en el tratamiento de adolescentes con fobia social generalizada mediante la utilización de dos condiciones experimentales: 1) Tratamiento Psicológico Estructurado específico para la fobia social (Intervención en Adolescentes con Fobia Social -IAFS en adelante- Olivares, 2005), y 2) Programa de técnicas de estudio con interacción entre iguales y con el profesor. Los participantes fueron 25 adolescentes que cumplían los criterios requeridos por el DSM-IV-TR (APA, 2002) para el diagnóstico de fobia social generalizada, seleccionados de entre 6 centros públicos de Educación Secundaria Obligatoria sorteados al azar de la Región de Murcia y Comunidad Valenciana (España). La edad media de la muestra fue de 14,99 años (rango entre 14-17), siendo la mayoría chicas (71,3 por ciento). Los resultados muestran que los adolescentes que recibieron Tratamiento Psicológico Estructurado (IAFS) alcanzan mejores resultados en las medidas de la ansiedad, evitación social y en los correlatos de éstas (asertividad, autoestima y adaptación) frente al grupo que recibió técnicas de estudio con interacción entre iguales.

The aim of this study is to analyze the influence of planned interaction in the treatment of teenagers with generalized social phobia in two experimental conditions: 1) psychologically Constructed specific Treatment for the social phobia (Intervention in Teenagers with Social Phobia -IAFS - Olivares, 2005), and 2) Program of technologies of study with interaction between children and teachers. Participants were 25 teenagers who fulfilled the criteria needed by the DSM-IV-TR (APA, 2002) for the diagnosis of widespread social phobia, selected among six public centers of Secondary Obligatory Education randomly, form the Region of Murcia and Valencia Community (Spain). The mean age of the sample were 14.99 years (ranging from 14 to 17), being the majority of them girls (71.3 percent). The results show that teenagers who received Psychologically Constructed Treatment (IAFS) reached better results in the measures of anxiety, social avoidance and in the correlates of these (assertiveness, self-esteem, and adjustment) in comparison to the group that received technologies of study with interaction between equals.

Tratamiento cognitivo-conductual de una adolescente con trastorno de ansiedad generalizada / Cognitive-behavioral treatment of a female adolescent with generalized anxiety disorder

El objetivo de este estudio es presentar los efectos de la aplicación de un tratamiento cognitivo-conductual en una adolescente que presenta un trastorno de ansiedad generalizada. El tratamiento incluyó una fase de explicación y reconceptualización del problema, otra de entrenamiento y una tercera de desvanecimiento del entrenamiento o "práctica programada". Las pruebas de evaluación empleadas fueron la Entrevista Semiestructurada de los Trastornos de Ansiedad del DSM-IV-C y los registros diseñados específicamente para evaluar la intensidad del malestar generado por las preocupaciones sobre las diferentes áreas fuente de preocupación y los correlatos de este trastorno. Los resultados muestran mejoras significativas entre pretest y postest que se mantuvieron en los seguimientos.