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).

Title of Project The Transfer of Obsessions in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Objective To assess participants experiences with symptom spread in obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Criteria Adults aged 18 or older who are living in Canada or the USA, and who have been diagnosed with OCD by a qualified mental health professional (e.g. registered/certified psychologist, psychiatrist, or physician).
Potential Risks Participants will be asked about their experiences with symptoms of OCD and to provide examples of obsessions which may be distressing. However, responses are not mandatory, and participants will be made aware before the study that questions will concern symptom spread in OCD.After the study participants will be debriefed on their study participation. To mitigate potential risks, the debriefing form will also provide a table of mental health resources (both crisis and non-crisis) for individuals residing in the US and Canada to contact if they feel in any way uncomfortable after completing the survey.
End Date September 1st, 2025
Time Required Participation will involve completing a brief 20–25 minute online survey about your experiences with the transfer of obsessions.
How to Participate Link to survey
Participation Gift 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 twenty $100 e-gift cards. Your participation is greatly appreciated, as it helps us better understand the mechanisms of symptom spread in obsession-compulsive disorder.
Contact If you would like more information about this study, please contact the principle investigator, Brooke Hiscock ([email protected]) or her supervisor, Dr. Emily Fawcett ([email protected]).

This research has been approved by the Interdisciplinary Committee on Ethics in Human Research (ICEHR).  If you have ethical concerns about the research, such as the way you have been treated or your rights as a participant, you may contact the ICEHR at [email protected] or by telephone at 709-864-2861.