Florida CBT Association's Inaugural Professional Talk

“Is this normal?”

Perinatal OCD, Adjustment and Differential Diagnoses

thursday, september 12, 2024
10:00am-11:00Am EST
200 East Las Olas Boulevard Conference 14-E
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301

Most new parents will experience what society has labeled as "unwanted" intrusive thoughts or images about harm coming to their baby, “What if I drop the baby?” or “Is the baby breathing!” These thoughts can lead to intense distress, feelings of guilt, sadness and even grief. For some parents, these types of thoughts can be difficult to “shake off” and are often dealt with through safety behaviors and rituals in an attempt to ameliorate the distress they induce.

So what distinguishes the expected intrusive thoughts in parenthood from a Postpartum OCD diagnosis? What does Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) look like for this population, and is it safe for the baby? We will review the research and explore these questions.