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Cited by 207Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum DisordersMaternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and PostpartumPsychoanalysis and Psychopathology Research

Early parental preoccupations and behaviors and their possible relationship to the symptoms of obsessive–compulsive disorder

Leckman, J. F., Mayes, L. C., Feldman, R., Evans, D. W., King, R. A., Cohen, D. J.·1999·Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica
DOI 10.1111/j.1600-0447.1999.tb10951.x
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Abstract

This study focuses on early parental preoccupations and behaviors (EPPB) surrounding the birth of a new family member. An interview instrument was developed to assess EPPB at eight months prepartum and two weeks and three months postpartum. Measures with adequate psychometric and conceptual properties were used to assess the overall level of parental preoccupations and associated actions as well as three content domains: caregiving (CARE), relationship building (RELATIONSHIP), and anxious intrusive thoughts associated with harm avoidant behaviors (AITHAB). The hypothesis that preoccupations and behaviors would peak for both parents close to the birth of the child was confirmed. Measures of EPPB were distinguished from symptoms of depression and generalized anxiety. Consistent with our a priori hypothesis the content and character of the AITHAB was found to resemble the symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The study findings suggest the potential adaptive significance of EPPB and the possible evolutionary origins of OCD.

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Crossref · 10.1111/j.1600-0447.1999.tb10951.x

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  • The Worries factor used in this study is similar to one used in parenting research, describes a unique mental state in postpartum parents, and has been shown to correlate with parental oxytocin.

    “Consistent with perspectives suggesting that periods of parental and romantic bonding share underlying mechanisms, this factor is similar to the one used in parenting research, describes a unique mental state in parents during the postpartum period (Feldman et al., 1999; Leckman et al., 1999), and has shown to correlate with parental OT (Feldman et al., 2007).”

    From Oxytocin during the initial stages of romantic attachment: Relations to couples’ interactive reciprocity (2012) · cites this paper as Leckman et al., 1999

  • Both the early stages of romantic love and early parental love are characterized by typical behaviors, mental states, and activations of specific brain structures.

    “Both the early stages of romantic love and early parental love are characterized by typical behaviors, mental states, and activations of specific brain structures (Atzil et al., 2011; Bartels and Zeki, 2004; Leckman et al., 1999; van Anders et al., 2011).”

    From Oxytocin during the initial stages of romantic attachment: Relations to couples’ interactive reciprocity (2012) · cites this paper as Leckman et al., 1999

  • The early stages of parenting are accompanied by heightened sensitivity to infant cues and mental preoccupations and worries, which correlate with oxytocin and are essential for the parent's bond to the infant.

    “In addition, the early stages of parenting has shown to be accompanied by heightened sensitivity to infant cues and mental preoccupations and worries, which similarly correlate with OT (Feldman et al., 2007) and are essential for the formation of the parent’s bond to the infant (Feldman et al., 1999; Leckman et al., 1999).”

    From Oxytocin during the initial stages of romantic attachment: Relations to couples’ interactive reciprocity (2012) · cites this paper as Leckman et al., 1999

  • During the early postpartum period, increased levels of anxiety and worries in new parents, typically about their infant's safety and health, may include thoughts of reciprocity, unity and even idealised perfection of the infant, which may elevate anxiety levels.

    “During the early postpartum period, increased levels of anxiety and worries in new parents, typically about their infant’s safety and health, may include thoughts of reciprocity, unity and even idealised perfection of the infant, which may elevate anxiety levels (14–16).”

    From Neuroendocrinology of Parental Response to Baby‐Cry (2011) · cites this paper as [16]

  • The times 2-4 weeks and 12-16 weeks postpartum were chosen to coincide with the transforming experience of having a baby known to be associated with increased tendency for parents to be highly preoccupied in the early postpartum.

    “These times were chosen to coincide with the transforming experience of having a baby known to be associated with increased tendency for parents to be highly preoccupied in the early postpartum”

    From The human parental brain: In vivo neuroimaging (2011) · cites this paper as Leckman et al., 1999

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Authors
Leckman, J. F., Mayes, L. C., Feldman, R., Evans, D. W., King, R. A., & Cohen, D. J.
Affiliations
Yale University (US)
ORCID
Venue
Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica
Publisher
Wiley
Published
1999-02
Volume
100
Issue
S396
Pages
1-26
ISSN
  • 0001-690X (ISSN-L)
  • 1600-0447
DOI
10.1111/j.1600-0447.1999.tb10951.x
OpenAlex
W2032720942
Cited by
207
References
57
Citations by year
2026: 4 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 10 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 16 · 2016: 8 · 2015: 15 · 2014: 10 · 2013: 8 · 2012: 9
FWCI
5.90
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor, 3207 d)
Locations
  • Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institute of Mental Health (MH49351, P01MH049351)
  • National Institute on Drug Abuse (DA00222)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Disorders
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychoanalysis and Psychopathology Research
Keywords
obsessive-compulsive disorder, prepartum anxiety, postpartum anxiety, harm avoidance, intrusive thoughts, caregiving, parent-infant relationship, maternal anxiety, paternal anxiety
MeSH terms
Adult, Age Factors, Anxiety, Separation, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Infant, Newborn, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Parent-Child Relations, Parents, Prospective Studies, Psychiatric Status Rating Scales, Reproducibility of Results, Parenting

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