Onset or Exacerbation of OCD During Pregnancy: Clinical Characteristics and Etiological Considerations

Abstract

Although there are a large number of studies on postpartum illnesses, such as depression and psychosis, only recently have perinatal anxiety disorders received attention. A number of studies indicate that there can be a rapid onset or exacerbation of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) during pregnancy. This article reviews the extant research on pregnancy-related OCD. Due to their small samples and the retrospective nature of most of the studies, the prevalence and course of pregnancy-related OCD remains unclear. However, research in this area has demonstrated that in contrast to the heterogeneous symptomatology generally observed in OCD, the clinical characteristics of obsessions and compulsions in pregnancy are relatively homogeneous, with fear of contamination and compulsive cleaning the predominant features. The article discusses biological and psychosocial factors as possible causes of OCD, as well as potential directions for future study. Given its potential negative implications for mothers’ postnatal mental health and infants’ development, OCD during pregnancy deserves further attention.