Table 1.

Potential differences between COVID-19 government guidelines and OCD

Covid-19 government guidelines	OCD
Wash hands or use hand gel for 20 seconds	Wash hands or use hand gel until ‘internal referenced’ criterion has been satisfied, likely to be more than 20 seconds
Wash hands or use hand gel when returning home from public place	Wash hands or use hand gel in response to an obsession, idiosyncratic trigger or pre-occupation/obsession regarding COVID-19 (likely to be frequent and excessive)
Wash hands or use hand gel generally following steps advised by government	Wash hands or use hand gel in a rigid and ritualised way
Avoid touching things others may have touched – use sanitiser	Wear gloves at all times, even at home
Do not allow anyone outside family in home	Do not allow anyone in the home
Social distance	Stop going out altogether