1. COVID-19-related intrusive thoughts and associated ritualistic behaviors.
- Author
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Leong A, Colah ZA, Guzick AG, Chen EY, Shah SS, Fall DA, Chen R, Zhang Y, Zhang C, Cepeda SL, Weinzimmer SA, Schneider SC, Zhou X, Goodman WK, Liu W, and Storch EA
- Subjects
- Female, Humans, Male, Anxiety, Anxiety Disorders, Asian People, Health Surveys, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder etiology, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder psychology, Psychological Distress, China, COVID-19 complications, COVID-19 psychology, Mental Health, Mental Disorders etiology, Mental Disorders psychology
- Abstract
This study evaluated COVID-19-related intrusive thoughts and associated ritualistic behaviors (CITRB). From March to May 2020, 1,118 Chinese high school students, college students, psychiatric outpatients, and community members completed a survey assessing CITRB, generalized anxiety, depression, somatization, obsessive-compulsive symptoms, and pandemic-related disruptions. Overall, participants reported mild to moderate CITRB, although certain thoughts/behaviors were more frequently endorsed, such as repeatedly telling others to take precautions against COVID-19 and checking COVID-19-related news. Being male, younger, a health-care worker, or in isolation/quarantine was associated with CITRB severity in community members. Obsessive-compulsive symptom severity, depression, somatic symptoms, and anxiety were associated with CITRB severity, although only obsessive-compulsive symptoms were uniquely associated with CITRB. This study provided evidence for the construct of CITRB, which may help mental health providers identify the nature and sources of COVID-19-related distress for some individuals as well as serve as a framework for evaluating obsessive-compulsive symptoms specific to large-scale crises.
- Published
- 2023
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