Changes in contamination-related obsessions and compulsions during the COVID-19 pandemic: A Norwegian longitudinal study

• Published in: Journal of obsessive-compulsive and related disorders 2022-10, Vol.35, p.100758, Article 100758
• Main Authors: Grøtte, Torun, Hagen, Kristen, Eid, Jarle, Kvale, Gerd, le Hellard, Stephanie, Solem, Stian
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Contamination fear; COVID-19; Longitudinal; Obsessive-compulsive symptoms; Pandemic
• ISSN: 2211-3649; 2211-3657
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jocrd.2022.100758

Early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic have been associated with increasing obsessive-compulsive symptoms (OCS), but less is known regarding these symptoms’ long-term trajectories. The aim of this study was to examine changes in contamination-related OCS in the Norwegian public during early and late stages of the pandemic, as well as characteristics that might be associated with these changes. In a longitudinal online survey, 12 580 participants completed self-report questionnaires in April 2020, including a retrospective assessment of contamination-related OCS severity (DOCS-SF) prior to COVID-19. In December 2020, 3405 (27.1%) of the participants completed the survey again. In April, participants retrospectively recalled that their contamination-related OCS were lower prior to COVID-19 (d = 1.09). From April to December, symptoms slightly decreased (d = −0.16). The proportion of participants scoring above the clinical cut-off on DOCS-SF (≥16) changed accordingly from 2.4% pre-COVID to 27.8% in April and 24.0% in December. Previous severity of contamination-related OCS and symptoms of distress related to COVID-19 were the most powerful predictors of contamination-related OCS severity during the pandemic. Elevated levels of contamination-related OCS were detected at both early and late stages of the pandemic, but the long-term symptom trend seems to be slightly declining. •Contamination fear is a common obsessive-compulsive symptom (OCS).•Contamination-related OCS worsened during the early phase of the pandemic.•Most participants experienced a symptom increase within the subclinical range.•The long-term symptom trend seemed to be slightly declining.•Higher initial contamination-related OCS predicted subsequent symptom severity.