Messaging around hand hygiene during the Covid-19 pandemic may have worsened symptoms for individuals living with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), according to new research from Trinity College Dublin.
The research team has launched a study focusing on handwashing, which they describe as an “under-researched” element of a broader mental health issue affecting approximately three in every 100 people in Ireland.
OCD is a mental health condition marked by intrusive, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors (compulsions), which sufferers feel compelled to perform in order to alleviate fear or anxiety.
Lead researcher Róisín Cunningham explained, “Handwashing became a global ritual during the Covid-19 pandemic. But for some people, it was already a distressing and hidden struggle affecting daily life.”
Cunningham noted that while compulsive checking is the most common symptom in OCD, contamination OCD—characterized by fear of germs and repeated handwashing—affects up to 16% of individuals with the condition.
“For these people, handwashing becomes repetitive, time-consuming, and difficult to control,” she said. “It can significantly disrupt daily functioning and mental wellbeing, yet it is rarely discussed openly.”
In Ireland, a formal OCD diagnosis typically requires at least one hour per day spent on compulsions, though some sufferers experience far longer periods of intrusive thoughts and compulsive behaviors. Cunningham emphasized that ongoing public messaging about handwashing during the pandemic intensified anxiety for individuals with pre-existing fears of contamination.
“It put handwashing into the spotlight and blurred the line between hygiene and compulsion,” she said, adding that the pandemic’s impact on OCD sufferers continues to affect lives five years later.
Cunningham also highlighted that OCD is often misunderstood or minimized as simply a desire for cleanliness, when in reality it can be debilitating. Many individuals remain undiagnosed due to stigma, long waiting lists, or fear of losing the temporary relief compulsions provide.
The study invites adults aged 25 and over to participate in three confidential one-to-one interviews. A formal OCD diagnosis is not required. Cunningham recommends that anyone experiencing symptoms discuss support options with a GP.
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