Can We Talk About a COVID-19 Related “New Normal” for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder?

The lack of effective treatment methods for COVID-19 has made the protective measures as the main defence in combating the pandemic. Every day, our minds get bombarded with information provided in the social media and by the authorities about the importance of following the protective measures including hygiene rules, use of masks and social distancing and that a disaster would be inevitable if the compliance regulations were not followed upon. So, what would be the overall impact of this collective attitude of the new super-hygienic, germ-free, no-touching attitude on individuals with contamination-related Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)? How are they interpreting this threat that they have been, by definition, over-reacting to and exaggerating anyway? How about the attitude of the therapists? How would that change during the treatment process? Do we need to start talking about a new treatment approach, as we may have unconsciously crippled the exposure-based psychotherapies? Is this the start of a “new normal” for OCD, if such a thing exists?