Doctorate in Clinical Psychology: Main Research Portfolio.

: 1) What is the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on symptomology for those with obsessive compulsive disorder? A systematic literature review; 2) Service evaluation of IAPT: exploring the demographic and clinical data of patients that only attended an IAPT assessment session; 3) “The pandemic came as an ambush!” Triggers for symptom worsening and protective factors for those experiencing sub-clinical obsessive compulsive disorder during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Abstract

Background: The negative impact of the coronavirus pandemic on individuals with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) has been well documented (Benatti et al., 2020; Davide et al., 2020; Jelinek et al., 2021; Khosravani et al., 2021; Tandt et al., 2022; Wheaton et al., 2021). However, there is a dearth of in-depth research that explores the lived experience of people with OCD during the pandemic. In particular, an examination of potential triggers for OCD symptoms worsening and protective factors has not yet been explored. Therefore, the aim of the current study is to gain an in-depth insight into people with OCD’s perception of their triggers for their symptoms worsening and their protective factors.
Method: Thematic analysis was conducted on 19 interviews with people with OCD.
Results: Three themes were identified through this study. The first theme (A real threat!) and second theme (Everything was changing so I got worse!) captures people’s perceived triggers for their symptoms worsening during the pandemic. The final theme (People understood me.) summarises how people reached out for peer support and felt more understood by their family members during this distressing time and this was a protective factor for them.
Conclusion: This study has important clinical implications including the importance of a thorough assessment and peer support for those with OCD; and not stopping but instead adapting exposure and response therapy (ERP). Future research should include a longitudinal study examining the impact of the pandemic of those with OCD after the restrictions have been lifted and the effectiveness of ERP during pandemic.

Date of Award	22 Sept 2023
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	University of Bath
Supervisor	Josie Millar (Supervisor)