Published online Apr 6, 2022. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v10.i10.3261
Peer-review started: October 22, 2021
First decision: December 17, 2021
Revised: December 22, 2022
Accepted: February 23, 2022
Article in press: February 23, 2022
Published online: April 6, 2022
Processing time: 158 Days and 10.8 Hours
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a common mental disorder that varies greatly in manifestation and causes much distress to individuals. We describe a case in which a Chinese woman with OCD became delusional after childbirth, and discuss the possible phenomenological and psychological alterations.
A 27-year-old woman presented to the Psychiatry Department of our hospital with obsessions and compulsions. After taking medication, her symptoms were alleviated. Three years later, during her pregnancy, the obsessions returned and even progressed into paranoid delusions after childbirth. After multiple adjustments of treatment along with several fluctuations, she finally achieved remission and gained reasonable insight.
This case suggests that the patient with OCD appeared to move along a continuum of beliefs, and highlights the importance of effective intervention during pregnancy, which would exert a significant impact on postpartum exacerbation outcomes.
Core Tip: Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a common mental disorder that varies greatly in manifestation and causes much distress to individuals. We describe a case that developed over a decade where a Chinese woman with OCD became delusional after childbirth, seriously affecting her marriage and parent–child relationship. We hope it can remind psychiatric practitioners to attach more importance to perinatal interventions for those who suffer from OCD.