ABSTRACT
Background: Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) can present with unusual symptomatology. Aim(s): To discuss a case of OCD with an atypical manifestation in an adult male teacher who has an obsession and compulsion of prescribing medications to the villagers and its management. Case Summary: A 35 years old male teacher presented with complaint of recurrent obsessional thoughts about prescribing medications to patients and compulsion for the same. He started having these thoughts after conducting duty at a community health center as a COVID-19 booth controller. He perceived these thoughts as intrusive, irrational, absurd, anxiety provoking and distressing;would trying to resist them, but won't be able to do so. He used to sit beside hospitals, squares in villages, and medical shops to find patients and prescribe medications to them to relieve his anxiety. After prescribing medications although his anxiety symptoms would decrease, but he would feel guilty about prescribing medication as he knew that is not an expert. He also faced financial issues as he used to buy medications for villagers, so that they allow him to prescribe medications. He was diagnosed as a case of OCD with good insight and was started on Tab. Escitalopram which was gradually built up to 20 mg over the 3 months along with psychoeducation and supportive sessions. Currently he is in remission and maintaining well since last 2 months. Conclusion(s): This case report illustrates that clinician should remain vigilant about the unusual presentations of OCD to avoid the misdiagnosis and timely management.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: COVID-19 pandemic is the first modern pandemic and has occurred in an era of social media ubiquity. Despite being in stage 1 of the pandemic, and low numbers of patients, various emotional and behavioral changes were observed in junior doctors. This study was designed to assess the experience and reactions of junior doctors in a tertiary teaching hospital in North India and Tamil Nadu in the immediate aftermath of the nation-wide lockdown. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: This was an observational cross- sectional study of junior doctors working in tertiary care hospitals in Chandigarh and Tamil Nadu. It was conducted from 28(th) March to 5(th) April 2020. Ethical clearance obtained and anonymity was maintained. We used a 17-item self-designed questionnaire circulated online. RESULTS: Mean age was 28.64 years (n=362). Though mostly well informed, only 8% restricted themselves to obtaining information from a single source. Around 46% were feeling anxious and many more (73.20%) perceived the same emotion in their peers and even more of them (85.10%) in their family members. Most of them (90.1%) endorsed more than change in behavior, mainly to avoid potential risk (52%) and females tend to self-quarantine themselves more than males. CONCLUSIONS: Knowledge does not play as important a role in the way people behave in an outbreak. Many other covert factors may possible be involved. Strategies leading to reduction in uncertainty, interventions for reassurance in the workplace and better role models would be of help in this outbreak.