OBSESSIONS RELIGIEUSES ET RAMADANRELIGIOUS OBSESSIONS AND RAMADAN

Background: Fasting during the month of Ramadan represents one of the five pillars of Islam. All adult Muslims around the world are required to comply with this religious obligation every year. During Ramadan month, fasting people abstain from eating, drinking and having sexual intercourse from sunrise to sunset. Ramadan occurs in the ninthmonth of the lunar calendar, lasting between 29 and 30 days. The lunar calendar does not correspond to the Gregorian one therefore, Ramadan canoccur in all seasons, varying from year to year. The cycle of the sun marks the beginning and the end of fasting. Its duration varies depending on the season: about 18 hours in the summer to about 12 hours during winter. During this month, daily religious practice is emphasized in all its aspects daily routine is framed around the fast, more prayers, more Koran reading, more ambient religiosity. This study aims to monitor religious obsessions and compulsions during, and after the month of Ramadan. Methods: In group of 1500 outpatients followed, 144 met DSM IV criteria for OCD. Forty-four (44) of themhadreligious obsessions and compulsions. Thirty-four (34) patients wereinvestigatedbefore, while, and afterthismonth. Results: We noticed an improvement of symptomsafter the month of Ramadan in 32% of cases (n=10). Conclusion: This study shows that religious obsessions are the most common obsessions. In some patients, religious obsessions improve after the month of Ramadan.