Original Research J Clin Psychiatry February 2026

Unwanted Intrusive Thoughts of Infant-Related Sexual Harm: Prevalence and Assessment of Safety

Full Article Read the complete peer-reviewed article in J Clin Psychiatry. Clinical Summary New parents sometimes disclose distressing, unwanted sexual-harm thoughts about their infant, and clinicians can struggle to distinguish these from true risk. This study addresses a high-stakes question directly: how common these thoughts are postpartum and whether they were associated with actual sexual behavior toward the infant. FAQ How common are unwanted intrusive thoughts of sexually harming an infant after childbirth? 9 questions
Key Takeaways Disclosure appears sensitive to how clinicians ask: studies using perinatal-specific thought lists and normalizing information found prevalence estimates above 8.0%, and in this cohort the period prevalence from birth to the second postpartum interview was 9.2% (n = 38; 95% CI, 6.6–12.4). 5 takeaways Clinical Guide How should clinicians ask postpartum birthing parents about unwanted intrusive thoughts of infant-related sexual harm to improve disclosure? 5 steps Clinical Guide How should clinicians assess infant safety when a postpartum birthing parent discloses unwanted intrusive thoughts of sexual harm toward the infant? 4 steps
Physicians Postgraduate Press, Inc. (PPP) makes no warranties about the accuracy or completeness of any information published in The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry or other PPP materials, and disclaims liability for any use or non-use of that information. Clinicians should not rely solely on these materials and should exercise their own professional judgment when making patient care decisions on an individualized basis.

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