PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Deemah A. Alateeq
AU  - Haneen N. Almughera
AU  - Tharaa N. Almughera
AU  - Raghad F. Alfedeah
AU  - Taeef S. Nasser
AU  - Khozama A. Alaraj
TI  - The impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on the development of obsessive-compulsive symptoms in Saudi Arabia
AID  - 10.15537/smj.2021.42.7.20210181
DP  - 2021 Jul 01
TA  - Saudi Medical Journal
PG  - 750--760
VI  - 42
IP  - 7
4099  - http://smj.org.sa/content/42/7/750.short
4100  - http://smj.org.sa/content/42/7/750.full
SO  - Saudi Med J2021 Jul 01; 42
AB  - Objectives: To explore the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the development of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) symptoms and its correlation with the level of perceived stress among the Saudi population.Methods: In July 2020, a cross-sectional survey of 2909 participants in Saudi Arabia during the outbreak was conducted to collect data related to sociodemographic characteristics and scores on the Brief Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (BOCS) and Perceived Stress Scale (PSS).Results: Most participants were female (73.9%) with a university level of education or higher (81%). The prevalence of new-onset obsessions was 57.8%, compulsions 45.9%, and moderate/high perceived stress 72.4%. New-onset dirt, germs, and virus obsessions were significantly higher among 40-49 age group, employees, housewives, students, quarantine discipliners, and those who spent 20 or more days in quarantine. New-onset hand-washing compulsions were significantly higher among the 30-49 age group. A significantly higher level of perceived stress was reported among those in the 18-29 age group, females, singles, participants with no children, students, non-smokers, those who were unemployed, living with families, diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder, living in the northern region, quarantine discipliners, and those who spent 60 or more days in quarantine.Conclusion: This study revealed a significantly higher prevalence of high perceived stress in respondents with new-onset OCD contamination symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic. This implies that a biodisaster is associated with high psychological morbidity.