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Published in: Archives of Women's Mental Health 5/2020

01-10-2020 | Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder | Original Article

Health practitioners’ recognition and management of postpartum obsessive-compulsive thoughts of infant harm

Authors: Melissa Mulcahy, Clare Rees, Megan Galbally, Rebecca Anderson

Published in: Archives of Women's Mental Health | Issue 5/2020

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Abstract

The postpartum period has been associated with elevated rates of onset of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) among women, with a prevalence of 2–9%. Postpartum OCD is often characterized by recurrent, unwanted, and highly distressing thoughts, images, or impulses of deliberate infant harm. This study investigated health practitioners’ recognition of, and clinical management strategies for, postpartum obsessive-compulsive symptoms (OCS). Ninety-four perinatal health practitioners from a range of disciplines and professional backgrounds completed a survey comprised of a hypothetical case vignette and questions eliciting their responses to a clinical presentation of postpartum infant harming obsessions. Almost 70% of participants did not accurately identify OCS within the case. Furthermore, the majority of practitioners endorsed at least one contraindicated clinical management strategy likely to aggravate postpartum OCS. Accurate recognition of OCS was associated with the selection of fewer contraindicated strategies. Some aspects of practitioner training and experience were associated with correct OCS identification. These findings underscore the need for targeted, interdisciplinary education to improve the detection and management of women experiencing postpartum OCS.
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Metadata
Title
Health practitioners’ recognition and management of postpartum obsessive-compulsive thoughts of infant harm
Authors
Melissa Mulcahy
Clare Rees
Megan Galbally
Rebecca Anderson
Publication date
01-10-2020
Publisher
Springer Vienna
Published in
Archives of Women's Mental Health / Issue 5/2020
Print ISSN: 1434-1816
Electronic ISSN: 1435-1102
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00737-020-01026-y

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