The Relationship of OCD and OCD Symptoms with the Thought Action Fusion in Children and Adolescents during the Pandemic Period

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: The aim of our study is to examine the effects of pandemic-related features on OCD symptoms during the period of restrictions, and to evaluate the relationship between OCD and TAF during the pandemic. METHODS: A total of 69 patients aged 7-18 years, who applied to our outpatient clinics and were diagnosed with OCD, were included in the study. Sociodemographic data form, Children's Yale Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (CY-BOCS) and Thought Action Fusion Scale for Children were used in the study. RESULTS: The CY-BOCS obsession score was found significantly higher in cases with an increase in the time spent with the family during the pandemic, obsession and compulsion scores in those with an increase in the cleaning efforts related to the pandemic, and compulsion score in those with an increase in the behaviors performed for the purpose of preventing virus transmission. The TAFTOTAL score was found to be significantly higher in females, and the TAFSELF subscale score was found to be significantly higher in patients over 12 years old. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: TAF appears to be critical in the onset and maintenance of OCD. It is thought that early diagnosis and intervention will be important in the prognosis before the chronicity of cognitive distortions of OCD.

Keywords

• obsessive-compulsive disorder
• children
• adolescent
• cognitive psychology
• covid-19.