Original Research J Clin Psychiatry March 2021

High Prevalence and Incidence of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Among Women Across Pregnancy and the Postpartum

JCP 2021;82(2):10.4088/JCP.20m13398

Full Article Read the complete peer-reviewed article in J Clin Psychiatry. JCP 2021;82(2):10.4088/JCP.20m13398 Clinical Summary Obsessive-compulsive disorder in the perinatal period is easy to miss, especially when obsessions involve infant-related harm that clinicians may mistake for psychosis or fail to ask about directly. This study shows that obsessive-compulsive disorder is substantially more common across pregnancy and the postpartum than prior estimates suggested, with the highest burden after delivery. FAQ How common was obsessive-compulsive disorder during pregnancy and after delivery in this study? 10 questions
Key Takeaways OCD burden was highest early after delivery: point prevalence rose from 2.6% (95% CI 0.4–4.8) at 6 weeks prior to delivery to 8.3% (95% CI 5.4–11.2) at 10 weeks postpartum, peaking at approximately 8 weeks postpartum at 8.7% (95% CI 5.6–11.7). 6 takeaways Clinical Guide How should clinicians assess obsessive-compulsive disorder in perinatal women when intrusive infant-related harm thoughts are present or suspected? 8 steps Clinical Guide How should clinicians time reassessment for obsessive-compulsive disorder across the postpartum period? 5 steps
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