Postpartum of a Triplet Pregnancy: Risk Factor for Resistant Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: A Clinical Case

The postpartum period is a time conducive to the worsening of obsessive-compulsive disorders (OCD), particularly impulse phobias during postpartum, which are anxieties related to the fear of harming the baby. The individual acknowledges the unreasonable nature of their thoughts. Estimates of the prevalence of perinatal OCD vary significantly. OCD after childbirth can occur alone or in conjunction with other psychiatric disorders such as major depressive disorder. Due to the general lack of awareness of the relationship between childbirth and OCD, the disorder may be underdiagnosed or misdiagnosed as major depressive disorder. The evaluation of a postpartum woman requires sensitive communication and careful risk assessment. This article describes the case of a patient who developed OCD with impulse phobias complicated by a major depressive episode following the birth of her triplets. The specific challenges related to the management and treatment of OCD and particularly impulse phobias during the perinatal period are discussed.