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Narrating Perinatal Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Through Blogs.
1Cheryl Tatano Beck is a Distinguished Professor, University of Connecticut, School of Nursing, Storrs, CT. Dr. Beck can be reached via email at Cheryl.beck@uconn.edu.
MCN. the American Journal of Maternal Child Nursing
|May 31, 2022
Summary
Women blogged about their experiences with perinatal obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Key themes included secrecy, terrifying thoughts, compulsive behaviors, and the challenging but rewarding recovery journey from this hidden maternal mental health condition.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Maternal Mental Health
- Qualitative Research
Background:
- Perinatal obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a significant maternal mental health concern.
- It often remains undiagnosed or misdiagnosed, impacting mothers and infants.
- Understanding women's lived experiences is crucial for effective intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe women's experiences with perinatal OCD.
- To analyze personal narratives shared in blogs.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative descriptive study using thematic content analysis.
- Analysis of 43 blog posts from international participants.
- Krippendorff's method and dendrograms for theme identification.
Main Results:
- Five key themes emerged: onset during pregnancy, secrecy, intrusive thoughts, protective compulsions, and recovery.
- Women described the progressive nature of the disorder and their coping mechanisms.
- The recovery process was characterized as difficult but ultimately worthwhile.
Conclusions:
- Perinatal OCD is a hidden struggle with serious implications.
- Early identification by healthcare providers, particularly nurses, is vital.
- Building trusting relationships facilitates disclosure and timely treatment for perinatal OCD.
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