Elevated risk for obsessive–compulsive symptoms in women pregnant during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a public mental health crisis with many people experiencing new or worsening anxiety. Fear of contagion and the lack of predictability/control in daily life increased the risk for problems such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in the general population. Pregnant women may be particularly vulnerable to such pandemic-related stressors yet the prevalence of OC symptoms in this population during the pandemic remains unknown. We examined the prevalence of OC symptoms in a sample of 4451 pregnant women in the USA, recruited via targeted online methods at the start of the pandemic. Participants completed self-report measures including the Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory-Revised and the Pandemic-Related Pregnancy Stress Scale. Clinically significant OC symptoms were present in 7.12% of participants, more than twice as high as rates of peripartum OCD reported prior to the pandemic. Younger maternal age, income loss, and suspected SARS-CoV-2 infection were all associated with higher OC symptoms. Two types of pregnancy-specific stress, pandemic-related and pandemic-unrelated, were both associated with higher levels of OC symptoms. Pandemicrelated pregnancy stress predicted OC symptoms even after controlling for non-pandemic-related, pregnancy-specific stress. Elevated rates of OC symptoms were observed in women pregnant during the pandemic, particularly those experiencing elevated pandemic-related pregnancy stress. This type of stress confers a distinct risk for OC symptoms above and beyond pregnancy-specific stress and demographic factors. Healthcare providers should be prepared to see and treat more peripartum women with OC symptoms during this and future public health crises.

Stress, Coping, and Psychiatric Symptoms in Pregnant Women in Outpatient Care During the 2021 Second-Wave COVID-19 Pandemic

“…Various studies evaluated the prevalence of psychopathological symptoms during COVID-19 pandemic in pregnant women: recent systematic reviews and meta-analyses observed the prevalence of depressive symptoms between 25 and 30% and the one of anxiety symptoms between 34 and 42% ( 13 , 14 ). Concerning OCD symptoms, some studies assessed its prevalence in pregnant women during COVID-19 pandemic between 7.12 ( 49 ) and 10.3% ( 50 ), in line with our study.…”

Investigation of the Relationship Between COVID-19 Anxiety and Perception of Risk in Pregnancy, Fears of Death and Losing Their Baby in the Pandemic

“…The COVID-19 pandemic process has led to a mental health crisis for the public, during which many people have been anxious. In this process, the fear of infection and the lack of control in daily life increased the risk of problems such as obsessive-compulsive disorder not only in pregnant women but also in the general population (Mahaffey et al, 2022). Therefore, those who exhibit obsessive-compulsive symptoms can be said to experience these symptoms as a result of their anxiety about their health (Taylor et al, 2007).…”

Effects of COVID-19 anxiety and obsession on fear of childbirth in high-risk pregnancy during the pandemic in Turkey

“…In this period, the fear of infection and lack of control in daily life have increased the risk of problems such as obsessive-compulsive disorder, not only in pregnant women but also in the general population. 32 In other words, it is not surprising that we found a positive relationship between anxiety and obsession levels and anxiety and fear of childbirth. There are studies showing that the fear of childbirth is higher in complicated pregnancies.…”