Minuteman
September 10th, 2011, 02:03
http://liveweb.archive.org/http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_116271.html
Excerpt:
Ritualistic behaviors common to moms with postpartum OCD are preventable, researchers say
THURSDAY, Sept. 8 (HealthDay News) -- Many new mothers feel a bit anxious about caring for their infant. But sometimes that concern develops into an obsession over all the things that can go wrong.
Although postpartum depression gets far more attention, postpartum OCD can also be harmful to mother and child, said Kiara Timpano, an assistant psychology professor at University of Miami in Florida.
"It's a very normal part of parenting to want to try to protect and keep your children safe," Timpano said. "What happens with OCD is that natural vigilance is turned up way too high.
...
It's unknown what triggers it, but women who've had anxiety disorders or OCD before giving birth are more vulnerable, Timpano said. Having a baby is an enormous life transition accompanied by huge hormonal and other physiological changes, which may contribute.
...
SOURCE: Kiara Timpano, Ph.D, assistant psychology professor, University of Miami, Miami, Fla.; Eric Storch, Ph.D., associate professor, pediatrics, psychiatry and psychology, University of South Florida Medical School, Tampa, Fla.; July 2011, Journal of Psychiatric Research, online
Excerpt:
Ritualistic behaviors common to moms with postpartum OCD are preventable, researchers say
THURSDAY, Sept. 8 (HealthDay News) -- Many new mothers feel a bit anxious about caring for their infant. But sometimes that concern develops into an obsession over all the things that can go wrong.
Although postpartum depression gets far more attention, postpartum OCD can also be harmful to mother and child, said Kiara Timpano, an assistant psychology professor at University of Miami in Florida.
"It's a very normal part of parenting to want to try to protect and keep your children safe," Timpano said. "What happens with OCD is that natural vigilance is turned up way too high.
...
It's unknown what triggers it, but women who've had anxiety disorders or OCD before giving birth are more vulnerable, Timpano said. Having a baby is an enormous life transition accompanied by huge hormonal and other physiological changes, which may contribute.
...
SOURCE: Kiara Timpano, Ph.D, assistant psychology professor, University of Miami, Miami, Fla.; Eric Storch, Ph.D., associate professor, pediatrics, psychiatry and psychology, University of South Florida Medical School, Tampa, Fla.; July 2011, Journal of Psychiatric Research, online