Perinatal Postpartum OCD

The public is now learning how maternal mental health can affect a child's development and impact the bond between parent and child. More research is now focusing on Perinatal and Postpartum OCD - one of the most misdiagnosed and misunderstood perinatal mental health conditions. Perinatal anxiety doesn't always mean OCD, but studies confirm that 3-5% of new mothers (and fathers) experience obsessive and compulsive symptoms during pregnancy or after the birth of a child. Perinatal/Postpartum OCD involves repetitive, intrusive thoughts and mental images - often violent, sexual, or harm-related - directed toward the baby, the self, or others. These thoughts are ego-dystonic: they are deeply distressing precisely because they conflict with the parent's values and wishes. Parents experiencing them do not want to act on them, and a 2008 study confirmed that the obsessive images reported are not delusional and that sufferers are among the least likely to act on them. Postpartum OCD is fundamentally an anxiety disorder - it is not a risk factor for harming a child.

Causes and Risk Factors

Perinatal/Postpartum OCD may run in the family. Having a family history of OCD or other anxiety-related disorders increases one's chance of developing the disorder. Hormonal shifts, sleep deprivation, and the heightened sense of responsibility that accompanies caring for a newborn can also contribute to onset.

Treatment

This type of OCD is highly treatable with a proper, individualized treatment program designed by Dr. Hank Srednicki. Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is the gold-standard, evidence-based treatment - helping parents face feared situations without engaging in compulsions, while reducing the power of intrusive thoughts over time.

If you are suffering from this condition, please know that it is not your fault. Your obsessions are not manifestations of any hidden motives. We understand what you are going through, and we are here to help you find a specialist who understands your condition and is well-trained to handle such cases. Simply call Dr. Hank Srednicki.