Prenatal, perinatal, and postnatal risk factors in obsessive-compulsive disorder.
BACKGROUND
The etiology of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) remains unknown, although it is thought to involve an interaction of genetic and environmental factors. This study aimed to identify prenatal, perinatal, and postnatal risk factors in OCD.


METHODS
We compared retrospectively 68 OCD patients to 70 control subjects based on responses given on a standardized questionnaire. The questionnaire was designed to evaluate environmental factors, with a special focus on gestation, labor, birth, and early infancy aspects.


RESULTS
The group of OCD patients had risk factors with greater frequency than the control group. Notable among the significant findings (p < or = 0.001) were edema of the hands, feet, or face and excessive weight gain during gestation; hyperemesis gravidarum; prolonged labor; preterm birth; and jaundice. When socioeconomic class was used as a covariable in the logistic regression analysis, prolonged labor and edema during pregnancy remained statistically significant.


CONCLUSIONS
Some early risk factors may be associated with the expression of OCD later in life such as edema during pregnancy and prolonged labor. If our findings are confirmed in future studies, greater attention should be given to such factors in predisposed individuals, especially in prenatal care and delivery.
Vasconcelos
Marcos Salem
MS
Department of Psychiatry, University of São Paulo Medical School, OCD Spectrum Disorders Program(PROTOC), São Paulo, Brazil.
Sampaio
Aline Santos
AS
Hounie
Ana Gabriela
AG
Akkerman
Fernando
F
Curi
Mariana
M
Lopes
Antonio Carlos
AC
Miguel
Euripedes C
EC
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D004487:Edema / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D004777:Environment; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007567:Jaundice, Neonatal / Q000453:epidemiology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D009771:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology*; D007744:Obstetric Labor Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D036801:Parturition; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000502:physiology