Maternal Obsessional-Compulsive Symptoms and Fetal Health Outcomes

<p class="paragraph" style="margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in; line-height: 200%;"><span class="normaltextrun">Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a chronic psychiatric condition that involves the presence of obsessional thoughts, images, or urges and/or compulsions that can be debilitating. Obsessive-compulsive symptoms (OCS) during pregnancy are known to increase maternal distress; however, their impact on fetal health outcomes remains unclear. This study examined the association between maternal OCS and adverse fetal health outcomes. Using data from a longitudinal study of 256 women assessed through pregnancy and the postpartum period, we administered measures of OCS, maternal anxiety, depression, and pregnancy outcomes. Results revealed no significant associations between maternal OCS during pregnancy and fetal health outcomes. These findings indicate that maternal OCS is not a critical determinant of fetal health outcomes. These results help contribute to better understanding maternal OCS and its effects while adding to the limited body of research on this topic.</span>