title: Prenatal, perinatal, and postnatal risk factors in obsessive-compulsive disorder.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of São Paulo Medical School, OCD Spectrum Disorders Program(PROTOC), São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcos Salem
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Vasconcelos
authors.forename: Aline Santos
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Sampaio
authors.forename: Ana Gabriela
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Hounie
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Akkerman
authors.forename: Mariana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Curi
authors.forename: Antonio Carlos
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Lopes
authors.forename: Euripedes C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Miguel
mesh_terms: 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