What Is Postpartum Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

What Is Postpartum Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder OCD Types Print Treating Postpartum Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder By Owen Kelly, PhD Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Carly Snyder, MD on November 12, 2019 facebook twitter linkedin Carly Snyder, MD is a reproductive and perinatal psychiatrist who combines traditional psychiatry with integrative medicine-based treatments.   Learn about our Medical Review Board Carly Snyder, MD Updated on February 06, 2020 MachineHeadz / Getty Images More in OCD Types Causes Symptoms and Diagnosis Treatment Living With OCD Related Conditions It is not uncommon for mothers to experience an array of emotions following the arrival of a new baby. The postpartum period has long been known to be a time of increased risk for the appearance, worsening or recurrence of mood and anxiety disorders. Many studies have suggested that the postpartum period may also present a risk for the onset or worsening of  obsessive-compulsive disorder  (OCD). Symptoms Postpartum symptoms of OCD are most likely to occur within six weeks after childbirth  but can begin during the pregnancy. In women who have preexisting OCD, there is some evidence that miscarriage can also act as a potent trigger of OCD symptoms. The symptoms of OCD in women who have postpartum obsessive-compulsive disorder can often be distinguished from those who already had obsessive-compulsive disorder. A recent study showed that the biggest difference between the two is that with postpartum OCD, the obsessions are mostly related to the baby in some way. Specifically, women with postpartum obsessive-compulsive disorder often report more aggressive obsessions related to harming their new baby than women who already had OCD. As well, women with postpartum obsessive-compulsive disorder more frequently experience obsessions related to contamination of the baby than women without postpartum-onset OCD.   Causes At this stage, it is unclear why the postpartum period is a time of increased risk for the onset of OCD for some women. From a biological perspective, it has been speculated that profound changes in hormones such as estrogen may be partly responsible. Hormones can disrupt the activity of neurotransmitters in the brain, including serotonin. Disruptions of the serotonin system have been heavily implicated in the development of OCD. From a psychosocial perspective, the arrival of a new baby presents a number of new challenges, which can be overwhelming for some women. Stress is a major trigger of OCD and the postpartum period may be especially stressful for those women who may not have adequate coping strategies or support in place. Treatment Like postpartum depression, it is essential to treat postpartum obsessive-compulsive disorder as it can affect normal bonding between a mother and her baby. It can also cause substantial suffering and pain on the part of the mother and family members. If you have recently given birth and you are experiencing new psychological symptoms such as intrusive and disturbing thoughts or compulsive behaviors such as uncontrolled hand-washing, be sure to mention this to your primary care physician, obstetrician, pediatrician or psychiatrist. If you are experiencing these or other symptoms, your doctor will likely do a full assessment that includes a full psychiatric history, as well as medical tests to rule out biological causes for your symptoms such as hypothyroidism. Cognitive-behavioral therapy  (CBT) may be a good option for women with ?postpartum obsessive-compulsive disorder as it eliminates the possibility of exposing the newborn to antidepressants such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors  (SSRIs). Although antidepressants like SSRIs are transferred through breast milk, there is no data on the long-term effects of exposure to SSRIs in breast milk, including the nervous system, so the benefit of taking the medication needs to outweigh the risk. Be sure to speak with your doctor to determine which treatment option is right for you.

SIPA Alumna pens open letter to her students COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY - SIPA Admissions Blog

SIPA Alumna pens open letter to her students COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY - SIPA Admissions Blog SIPA alumna  Zaina Arafat, MIA 09, shares an op-ed on Vice.com, What I Should Have Said to My Students as Their Muslim American Teacher. Here are the first two paragraphs: You dont look Muslim. You hardly even look Arab. You pass for nearly everything and anything else. People ask if youre Italian or Spanish or Greek. Israeli. Sometimes Mexican, occasionally Argentine. For four years, you taught a class in the Midwest, in a swing state. You loved and respected your students, and they loved and respected youâ€"they worked hard for you and for one another, they valued your feedback, they hugged you before Thanksgiving and Christmas, they came to you after breakups and family deaths and roommate quarrels. On the third to last class each semesterâ€"far enough in so they couldnt drop, but still two classes away from course evaluationsâ€"youd tell them that youre Muslim. Many of them were surprised. You dont look Muslim. What does a Muslim look like? youd ask. They werent exactly sure, theyd say, but not like you. Theyd admit that when they first saw your name in the course directory, they werent sure what to expect. They thought youd have an indecipherable accent (they imply that theyre happy you dont). They thought youd be wearing a headscarf. Youd smile, youd laugh a little. You wouldnt mention that while you may not look like a Muslim, you are one. Y ou carry your Quran from city to city, for years you fasted during Ramadan, you love your religion, youre heartbroken over the way its been hijacked by extremists. You travel to predominately Muslim countries once or twice a year to see your family. You wouldnt mention these things. Instead youd ask if they had ever met another Muslim. We had one in our town, an earnest, young, male student offered. Read the rest of Arafats powerful letter  on Vice.com. [Photo by Hernán Piñera/Flickr (CC BY-SA 2.0)]