title: Obsessions and Compulsions in Postpartum Women Without Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To describe the prevalence of obsessions and compulsions and the specific symptoms present in postpartum women without obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD).
  
  
  METHODS
  In this prospective cohort, women were screened with the Yale Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale at 2 weeks postpartum. Demographics and comorbid psychiatric symptoms were compared between women with screen-positive OCD, screen-negative OCD but with some endorsed symptoms (subclinical OCD), and no OCD symptoms. The prevalence of each specific set of obsessive and compulsive symptoms and the rate of impairment from those symptoms were compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 461 women included, 52 (11.2%) screened positive for OCD, while 173 (37.5%) reported experiencing subclinical obsessions or compulsions. This subclinical OCD was associated with an increased rate of depression (24%) and state-trait anxiety (8%) compared with women who did not endorse experiencing any obsessions or compulsions. Aggressive, religious, and somatic obsessions as well as obsessions with symmetry, when present, were most likely to result in OCD screen positivity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nearly half of all women who screen negative for OCD experienced obsessions or compulsions that did not result in OCD screen positivity. However, the presence of these subclinical obsessions and compulsions is associated with an increased rate of depression or anxiety.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine , Chicago, Illinois.
authors.forename: Emily S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine , Chicago, Illinois.
authors.forename: Denada
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hoxha
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine , Chicago, Illinois.
authors.forename: Katherine L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Wisner
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine , Chicago, Illinois.
authors.forename: Dana R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Gossett
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007087:Illinois / Q000453:epidemiology; D009770:Obsessive Behavior / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009771:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D049590:Postpartum Period / Q000523:psychology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires