Symptom Spread in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.

Title: Symptom Spread in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.

Description: Do you ever wonder why a friend’s good mood can be contagious, or why comforting someone who is sad can make us feel upset? Research shows that everyday emotions like fear, anger, disgust, sadness, joy, and even surprise can be contagious and easily transfer from one individual to another. While there’s some research examining how this might apply to psychological conditions like depression and anxiety (e.g., watching a socially anxious presenter makes us feel more anxious than watching a non-anxious presenter), how and why obsessions might spread in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) has never fully been explored. Thus, the main purpose of the current study is to investigate a potential “obsession contagion”, in which a person with OCD might “catch” an obsession after being exposed to it. We hope that this research may help us better understand the potential for contagion in situations in which sharing obsessions occurs (e.g., online blogs, peer support groups, educational campaigns). As appreciation and compensation for your time completing the survey, you can choose to be entered into a raffle for the chance to win one of 20, $100 e-gift cards. Your participation is greatly appreciated, as it helps us better understand the mechanisms of symptom spread in obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Specifics: Study Population:
Specifically, we are recruiting participants who have been diagnosed with OCD, are age 18 or above, and who are living in Canada or the U.S.
Participant Obligation
Participate in an approximately 20–25-minute online survey about your experiences with how obsessions spread.

If you are interested in participating in this study and meet the eligibility criteria noted above, you may access the survey below.

Location: Online - St. John's. Approval for Canada and the U.S.

Project lead: Brooke Hiscock, Supervisor: Dr. Emily Fawcett

Study Dates: juillet 25, 2024 to septembre 1, 2025

Study Website: https://mun.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_77llN5xe8qzxOrI