Contact Us:
click here to email the
OCD Center of L.A.
(310) 335-5443
 |
 |
 |
|
Postpartum OCD, and Related Conditions
Postpartum OCD is a significant problem that is one of a number of postpartum mental illnesses that can affect a new mother. These conditions range from the relatively benign “baby blues” to the most severe, postpartum psychosis. It is estimated that anywhere from 60%-80% of new mothers will experience the depressed mood often called the “baby blues”. These symptoms often ameliorate within a week of onset, and do not warrant treatment. Postpartum depression, which afflicts approximately 10%-20% of new mothers, is more severe and lasts for a longer period of time. Postpartum OCD affects approximately 3-5% of new mothers, and has symptoms similar to those seen in others with OCD. In mothers with Postpartum OCD, the focus of the obsessions is often on the fear of purposely harming the newborn, or somehow being responsible for accidental harm.
Symptoms of Postpartum OCD vary widely from mother to mother. Some examples of common obsessions seen in Postpartum OCD are:
Some common examples of compulsions seen in Postpartum OCD include:
Unfortunately, Postpartum OCD is quite often misdiagnosed as being postpartum depression. The cause of this appears to be three-fold. First, many women with Postpartum OCD also have postpartum depression. While some experts estimate that as many as 30% of new mother with postpartum depression also have postpartum OCD, one recent study found that 57% of new mothers with postpartum depression also had symptoms of Postpartum OCD. Second, many pediatrician, obstetricians, psychiatrists and psychologists do not fully understand the nature of Postpartum OCD, and thus misunderstand the symptoms being reported. And third, Postpartum OCD is often a very secretive condition. New mothers are often reluctant to tell anyone of their obsessions for fear that they will be seen as "crazy" or a danger to the child.
Fortunately, the treatment of Postpartum OCD is essentially the same as other instances of OCD. A specific type of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy known as "Exposure and Response Prevention" (ERP) has proven to be very successful in the treatment of most subtypes of OCD, including Postpartum OCD. Another CBT technique that is extremely valuable in the treatment of Postpartum OCD is called "Cognitive Restructuring", in which mothers learn to challenge the validity of the intrusive thoughts and images they are experiencing.
Additionally, a variant of ERP has been developed that has also been found to be extremely effective with the “pure obsessional” symptoms often seen in Postpartum OCD. This method, sometimes called "imaginal exposure," involves using short stories based on the mother’s obsessions. These OCD stories are audiotaped and then used as ERP tools, allowing the client to experience exposure to situations that cannot be experienced through traditional ERP (e.g., killing or molesting a child). When combined with standard ERP for the above-noted compulsions, and other Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy techniques, this type of imaginal exposure can greatly reduce the frequency and magnitude of these intrusive obsessions, as well as the mother’s sensitivity to the thoughts and mental images experienced in Postpartum OCD. To learn more about Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for the treatment of Postpartum OCD, click here.
In addition to individual therapy for postpartum OCD, the OCD Center of Los Angeles also offers five weekly, low-fee, therapy/support groups for adults with OCD, Postpartum OCD, and related conditions. These groups are led by our staff therapists, and use the same treatment protocol as our individual Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy program. For more information on our weekly groups for OCD, Postpartum OCD, and related conditions, click here.
If you are experiencing any of the above Postpartum OCD symptoms, and would like to discuss individual or group treatment at the OCD Center of Los Angeles, you can call us at (310) 335-5443, or click here to email us. If you live outside Southern California, we recommend that you contact a licensed Cognitive-Behavioral therapist in your local area.
POSTPARTUM OCD - SYMPTOMS AND TREATMENT
Symptoms of Postpartum OCD
Treatment of Postpartum OCD
Group Therapy For the Treatment of Postpartum OCD
| Please note that the above is not meant to replace a complete and thorough evaluation by a licensed cognitive-behavioral therapist or other qualified mental health professional. Some women with Postpartum OCD may benefit from medication, and may therefore require a psychiatric evaluation. Likewise, a psychiatric assessment may be necessary to differentiate between Postpartum OCD and other psychological conditions. If a psychiatric evaluation is indicated, the OCD Center of Los Angeles can refer you to a qualified psychiatrist in our area. Furthermore, it is imperative to make the distinction between Postpartum OCD and other medical conditions. For this reason, a medical examination may be necessary. |
