Coronavirus Disease 2019 Associated Obsessive-compulsive Disorder: A Case Report

Abstract

Distressing obsessions and repetitive compulsions characterize obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Usually, OCD responds well to pharmacotherapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, or a combination of both.1 Due to the pandemic of the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), strict preventive measures, lockdowns, and quarantines during COVID-19 had a wider social impact, which caused significant mental health problems. Many studies have highlighted the worsening of OCD symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic. We are reporting a case of a young adult who had gone through severe distress during the COVID-19 pandemic and developed syndromal OCD. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case reporting new-onset OCD as an adverse outcome of COVID-19-associated stress.