Given the prevalence of postpartum OCD and obsessive symptoms in women with postpartum depression, we should devote more time to this topic. This is an informative and well-written article by Alice Wolton on postpartum OCD in Forbes. In this piece, she mentions a recent study from Timpano and colleagues at the University of Miami where cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) was used to prevent postpartum OCD.
In her study, Timpano showed that CBT can be an effective preventative method for postpartum OCD. She and her colleagues studied women who suffered from anxiety while pregnant and had them take a course on OCD symptom awareness and CBT methods to address potential symptoms. The women who took the course had much lower risk of developing OCD after they gave birth than women who were enrolled in regular childbirth classes.
Hi there! I can really relate to this. I myself have recently created a blog which talks about my personal experience with depression, anxiety and OCD and how I managed to overcome it, writing a blog in a mission to inspire others. Would really appreciate you taking a look, thank you.
Ruta and staff who put out this blog- Keep the good work going- I love this because it recaps the important info without having to read the entire study. As an OB nurse. lactation consultant and a mother of a daughter who has OCD and depression- it is encouraging that this information is available and accessible. Hopefully by the time my daughter has a child, we will have more of a definitive answer about SSRI’s and pregnancy.