Abstract

Obsessive and Compulsive Symptoms During COVID 19 Pandemic Crises Among the General Population in Makkah Region Saudi Arabia, A cross-sectional study.

Background: The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has led to several changes internationally, nationally, and personally. The purpose of this study was to assess the obsessive-compulsive behaviors and symptoms among the Saudi population, specifically Makkah region, and to investigate the relationship between knowledge regarding the novel Coronavirus knowledge and Obsessive thoughts. Methods: The questionnaire included items related to the knowledge of COVID and a screening tool for OCD called the OCI-12 scale. Data collection took place from August to October 2021. Results: 73.9% of the participants had a positive OCI-12 score during the COVID pandemic, which indicated the possible presence of OCD. Females had more ‘obsessing’ symptoms than males. Participants who agreed that “antibiotics help in the treatment of COVID” were associated with more ‘checking’ symptoms than the rest of the participants. Regarding the knowledge, the majority of the participants had the correct knowledge and information regarding COVID. Conclusion: A high prevalence of participants had a positive score on the OCD-12 scale. There were significant associations that were found between specific demographics as gender, employment status, whether participants had children or not, and whether participants were exposed to covid or had COVID before with the presence of obsessive-compulsive symptoms. Also associations were found between knowledge participants had about COVID with the presence of obsessivecompulsive symptoms.

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