Abstract for obsessive compulsive disorder

Recent reseach studies report that there is a marked increase in the rates of mental health disorders which are found to be highly associated to the successive stressful life events that is happening at the present time. Mental disorders are usually progressive, irreversible and disabling, if untreated. The rising rates of individuals with mental health disorders is a striking toll for future psychiatric epidemics. OCD represents a threatening mental disorder that tend to have a chronic deblitating course leading to impaired functioning and disability. It is a serious type of anxiety disorder affecting 2-3% of general population with different origins and ages. In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, worsening of the OCD symptoms due to the fear of contamination and infection, also the negative impact of the curfew of the pandemic on OCD patient have been reported. This confirms the correlation between stressful life events and severity of OCD symptoms. The rising concerns about the severity and consequences of OCD disorder in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic mandate the urge to put it back on the table of discussion. Based on reviewing the relevant literature, we present a comprehensive updated review of OCD disorder and its key issues. Finally we highlight a list of recommendation that may be beneficial for meeting the needs of OCD patients and reducing their sufferings. Keywords: obsessive compulsive disorder, psychiatric epidemics, mental disorders, obsessive thoughts, washing rituals, stressful life events, disability, deteriorative symptoms, recommendations