After swine flu, is OCD gripping Pune?

Psychologists say that following swine flu, cases of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is on a rise in the city wherein people repetitively wash hands, change clothes to prevent themselves from contracting the H1N1 virus

After swine flu, is OCD gripping Pune?

Ever since Anita Joglekar (name changed), a 30-year-old-woman, read in some newspaper that washing hands regularly could ward off the chances of contracting H1N1 virus, she has made washing hands a habit. And now, she is so much obsessed with it that she feels uneasy when she doesn't get a chance to do it.

Likewise Shashikant Surve (name changed), software professional, is obsessed with the habit of changing clothes. And with the cases of swine flu increasing in the city, he changes every hour, which was earlier restricted to once in three hours.

Psychologists say that swine flu has substantially increased Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), which is also known as anxiety disorder, amongst Puneites.

Dr S Sudhir, a psychiatrist who practices at Koregaon Park, said that the symtoms of OCD amongst patients has aggravated by almost 25 per cent after the swine flu panic. "When such people read newspaper advertisements that advise them to practise cleanliness, their symptoms advances."

Speaking about Joglekar, who is undergoining treatment under him, Dr Sudhir said, "Earlier, she used to wash her hands at least 50 times a day but now, it has increased to around 100 times."

While Dr Vasudeo Parlikar, another psychiatrist practising in the city, said, "Besides OCD, there's also an increase in hypochondrial doubts among people." Explaining hypochondria, he said that it's a psychological disorder wherein the patient persistently feels that there is something wrong with him that even the doctors aren't able to diagnose.

Whereas Dr Dilip Sarda, president of Indian Medical Association (IMA), feels that the hype created by the media about swine flu is responsible for increasing phobia among the people. "People who are susceptible to emotional problems develop psychological fears, which is absolutely uncalled for," he said.