Common Threads: Postpartum OCD

Early identification of clinically significant obsessive-compulsive symptoms during the perinatal period is essential, yet these symptoms are frequently missed or misdiagnosed. This often reflects limited awareness of the disorder and the absence of routine screening. Patients may also hesitate to disclose their experiences due to shame, guilt, or fear that reporting intrusive thoughts could lead to judgment or the loss of custody of their child. For individuals with severe symptoms, the consequences of unrecognized and untreated postpartum obsessive-compulsive disorder can be profound. Clinicians must therefore be familiar with the disorder’s clinical presentation and foster clinical environments in which patients feel safe disclosing distressing thoughts and symptoms.

Two women have shared their experiences with me on this topic, and they are posted on our blog. You can read their personal narratives by clicking on the thumbnails below.

Reference: Ferra, Ines, Miguel Braganca, and Ricardo Moreira. "Exploring the clinical features of postpartum obsessive-compulsive disorder-a systematic review." The European Journal of Psychiatry 38.1 (2024): 100232.

Dr. Tracey Vogel