Title of the symposium: Psychopathology of Pregnancy and Puerperium – glimpses from India and Italy
Chairperson: Prabha Chandra, Professor of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore, India.
Title of the presentation: Perinatal obsessive-compulsive disorder. Authors: Giuseppe Mainaa,b, Gianluca Rossob.
aPsychiatric Unit, San Luigi Gonzaga University Hospital, Regione Gonzole 10, 10043, Orbassano, Turin, Italy
bDepartment of Neurosciences “Rita Levi Montalcini”, University of Turin, Via Cherasco 15, 10126, Turin, Italy
Abstract
Background: Obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) is a complex psychiatric disorder with a multifactorial etiology. Biological and psychosocial factors play a key role in modulating the liability to OCD. Pregnancy, especially the last trimester, and the postpartum period are at risk of onset, recurrence or exacerbation of OCD, leading to severe suffering and impairment for the patient, her baby and her family as well.
Methods: We analyzed the results of the studies that have considered OCD, pregnancy and the
postpartum period.
Results: Studies show that prevalence of OCD during the third trimester of pregnancy (3.5%) is
higher than in general population (2-3%). Also, a postpartum onset of OCD occurs in up to 25% average of affected women. In pregnant and postpartum women, OCD is characterized by specific features: aggressive thoughts focused on the baby and associated compulsive behaviors that may suggest the potential for harm to the mother or child. Given the highly disturbing thought contents, affected women often avoid asking for help. Therefore, perinatal OCD is frequently undetected and untreated.
Conclusions: Timely diagnosis and effective treatments should be offered to patients, including patient and family psychoeducation, in order to avoid persistent impairment in family life and activities of daily living, as well as extensive family involvement and accommodation of OCD symptoms, with a burden that leads families to reduce their social activities and increase their isolation and distress.
Corresponding author:
Name and Surname: Giuseppe Maina Affiliation:
Psychiatric Unit, San Luigi Gonzaga University Hospital, Regione Gonzole 10, 10043, Orbassano, Turin, Italy
Department of Neurosciences “Rita Levi Montalcini”, University of Turin, Via Cherasco 15, 10126, Turin, Italy
Address: Psychiatric Unit, San Luigi Gonzaga Hospital, Regione Gonzole 10, 10043, Orbassano, Turin, Italy
