Professor Borwin Bandelow sat down with us to discuss how obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) can impact on a patient’s life as they become consumed by their obsessions and compulsions. This discussion covered some of the key factors to take into account when considering a diagnosis of OCD. These include the importance of identifying between obsessive-compulsive personality traits and OCD, and the level of impact on everyday functioning for the individual. Professor Bandelow also highlighted that patients with OCD with poor insight can be harder to treat and effective treatment may be further limited if the full extent of symptoms is not shared due to stigma. Finally, we discussed the differing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on people with OCD, noting the different experiences of people who fear contamination and those who do not.