Impact of COVID-19 on Mental Health of OCD Patients and live-in Family Members (COVIDOCS)

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Patients With Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and Their live-in Family Members

The impact of the current Covid-19 pandemic on mental health of people with preexisting psychiatric problems is enormous. This longitudinal study investigates the prevalence of mental health problems (obsessive compulsive, or depressive symptoms, anxiety, stress...) of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) patients and their live-in family members. We also aim to investigate the impact of the pandemic, isolation measures, exposure to media and changing therapeutic setting in OCD patients and their live-in family members through qualitative research.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Y-BOCS or FAS online survey, interview

Detailed Description

The impact of the current Covid-19 pandemic on mental health of people with preexisting psychiatric problems is enormous. Previous studies during the SARS outbreak demonstrated a significant burden and increase of mental health problems in people with preexisting psychiatric problems, but little is known about the impact on preexisting obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). This longitudinal study aims to investigate the prevalence of mental health problems of OCD patients during and after the Covid-19 pandemic. We also want to investigate the impact on family accommodation (FA). There is growing evidence that FA maintains and/or facilitates OCD symptoms. OCD patients and their live-in family members, followed at the Centre for OCD of the Ghent university hospital, will be included. Sociodemographic data, data regarding employment and previous mental health problems will be collected at the first survey. The Y-BOCS (OCD symtoms) and FAS (family accommodation) will be taken from patients and family members respectively at the start, after 1, 3 and 6 months. The Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21), the Dutch translation of the Covid-19 Peritraumatic Distress Index (CPDI) will be administered at the same time points through an online survey.

Secondly, patients and live-in family members will be interviewed about their experiences concerning the covid pandemic, the isolation measures, media exposure and change of mental health practice and the impact on the OCD (qualitative research).

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 75

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Belgium
  • Ghent, Belgium, 9000
    • Ghent University Hospital

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 16 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

OCD patients followed at the Centre of OCD and their live-in family members

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• OCD patients
• live-in family members of OCD patients

Exclusion Criteria:

• not speaking fluently Dutch

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Observational Models: Cohort
• Time Perspectives: Prospective

Number of groups / cohorts

2

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort	Intervention / Treatment
OCD patients; Patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder	Other: Y-BOCS or FAS online survey, interview; Y-BOCS or FAS and online survey will be administered interview will be conducted
live-in family members; Live-in family members of OCD patients	Other: Y-BOCS or FAS online survey, interview; Y-BOCS or FAS and online survey will be administered interview will be conducted

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
OCD symptoms in patients at baseline	OCD symptoms as measured by the Y-BOCS	Baseline
Family accommodation in family members at baseline	FA as measured by the family accommodation scale (FAS)	Baseline
Change in OCD symptoms in patients	OCD symptoms as measured by the Y-BOCS	Baseline + 30 days, baseline + 90 days, baseline + 180 days
Change in family accommodation in family members	FA as measured by the family accommodation scale (FAS)	Baseline + 30 days, baseline + 90 days, baseline + 180 days

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Depressive symptoms at baseline in patients and family members	Depressive symptoms as measured by the 7-item depression subscale of the self-reported 21-item Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21) (DASS-21-Depression). A higher score indicates more depressive symptoms with a minimum score of 0 and a maximum score of 21.	Baseline
Change in depressive symptoms in patients and family members	Depressive symptoms as measured by the 7-item depression subscale of the self-reported 21-item Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21) (DASS-21-Depression). A higher score indicates more depressive symptoms with a minimum score of 0 and a maximum score of 21.	Baseline + 30 days, baseline + 90 days, baseline + 180 days
Anxiety symptoms at baseline in patients and family members	Anxiety symptoms as measured by the 7-item depression subscale of the self-reported 21-item Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21) (DASS-21-Depression). A higher score indicates more anxiety symptoms with a minimum score of 0 and a maximum score of 21.	Baseline
Change in anxiety symptoms in patients and family members	Anxiety symptoms as measured by the 7-item depression subscale of the self-reported 21-item Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21) (DASS-21-Depression). A higher score indicates more anxiety symptoms with a minimum score of 0 and a maximum score of 21.	Baseline + 30 days, baseline + 90 days, baseline + 180 days
Stress levels at baseline in patients and family members	Stress as measured by the 7-item depression subscale of the self-reported 21-item Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21) (DASS-21-Depression). A higher score indicates more stress levels with a minimum score of 0 and a maximum score of 21.	Baseline
Change in stress levels in patients and family members	Stress as measured by the 7-item depression subscale of the self-reported 21-item Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21) (DASS-21-Depression). A higher score indicates more stress levels with a minimum score of 0 and a maximum score of 21.	Baseline + 30 days, baseline + 90 days, baseline + 180 days
Covid-19 related psychological stress at baseline in patients and family members	Specific distress regarding Covid-19 will be measured by the Dutch translation of the COVID-19 Peritraumatic Distress Index (CPDI). This self-reported questionnaire inquires about the frequency of anxiety, depression, specific phobias, cognitive change, avoidance and compulsive behaviour, physical symptoms and loss of social functioning in the past week. The score ranges from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating more distress.	Baseline
Change in Covid-19 related psychological stress in patients and family members	Specific distress regarding Covid-19 will be measured by the Dutch translation of the COVID-19 Peritraumatic Distress Index (CPDI). This self-reported questionnaire inquires about the frequency of anxiety, depression, specific phobias, cognitive change, avoidance and compulsive behaviour, physical symptoms and loss of social functioning in the past week. The score ranges from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating more distress.	Baseline + 30 days, baseline + 90 days, baseline + 180 days

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University Hospital, Ghent
• Investigators: Study Director: Gilbert MD Lemmens, MD, PhD, University Hospital, Ghent

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): April 6, 2020
• Primary Completion (Actual): November 22, 2020
• Study Completion (Actual): November 22, 2020

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: December 15, 2022
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 15, 2022
• First Posted (Actual): December 19, 2022

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): December 19, 2022
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 15, 2022
• Last Verified: December 1, 2022

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Covid-19; Family accommodation
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Mental Disorders; Coronavirus Infections; Coronaviridae Infections; Nidovirales Infections; RNA Virus Infections; Virus Diseases; Infections; Respiratory Tract Infections; Respiratory Tract Diseases; Pneumonia, Viral; Pneumonia; Lung Diseases; Personality Disorders; Anxiety Disorders; COVID-19; Compulsive Personality Disorder; Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
• Other Study ID Numbers: BC-07561

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: No
• IPD Plan Description: The datasets generated and/or analyzed during the current study are not publicly available due to confidentiality issues but are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No