title: Context is Everything: An Investigation of Responsibility Beliefs and Interpretations and the Relationship with Obsessive-Compulsive Symptomatology across the Perinatal Period.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The cognitive-behavioural model of perinatal OCD suggests the role of increased sense of responsibility during the perinatal period in the development and maintenance of obsessive-compulsive symptoms. However, the idiosyncratic nature of responsibility attitudes and interpretations of intrusions is not fully understood.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate how responsibility interpretations regarding intrusions vary across the perinatal period and how this relates to obsessive-compulsive symptomatology.
  
  
  METHODS
  94 women (26 antenatal, 35 postpartum and 33 non-childbearing controls) completed measures of responsibility attitudes and interpretations regarding specific intrusions (either general or baby-related), as well as obsessive-compulsive symptomatology, anxiety and depression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Postpartum ratings of responsibility interpretations regarding baby-related intrusions were significantly higher than: i) postpartum ratings of responsibility interpretations regarding non-baby intrusions; and ii) control group responsibility interpretations. The groups were not significantly different regarding general responsibility ratings. Ratings of baby-related responsibility interpretations predicted variance in obsessive-compulsive symptomatology.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The postpartum group showed significant differences in responsibility interpretations regarding baby-related intrusions. These responsibility interpretations were shown to predict obsessive-compulsive symptomatology.
authors: Royal Holloway University of London,UK.
authors: Roxanne
authors: R
authors: Barrett
authors: Royal Holloway University of London,UK.
authors: Abigail L
authors: AL
authors: Wroe
authors: King's College London,Institute of Psychiatry,Psychology and Neuroscience,UK.
authors: Fiona L
authors: FL
authors: Challacombe
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001290:Attitude; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008960:Models, Psychological; D009771:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D018743:Perinatal Care; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D011594:Psychometrics; D012919:Social Behavior; D012941:Social Responsibility; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Anxiety; OCD; perinatal; responsibility