According to a recent study published in the Journal of Psychiatric Research, cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) can help reduce obsessive-compulsive symptoms (OCS) in postpartum women. In the current study, expectant mothers, at-risk for OCS, were divided into two groups: (1) A CBT prevention program and (2) a credible control program. Results indicate that women who received the CBT prevention program had reductions in obsessions and compulsions at one, three and six months postpartum. They also reported a decrease in cognitive distortions compared to the control condition.
Timpano K, Abramowitz J, Mahaffey B, Mitchell M, Schmidt N. Efficacy of a prevention program for postpartum obsessive–compulsive symptoms. Journal of Psychiatric Research [serial online]. November 2011;45(11):1511-1517.