TY - JOUR
T1 - Thought control strategies used by parents reporting postpartum obsessions
AU - Larsen, Karin E.
AU - Schwartz, Stefanie A.
AU - Whiteside, Stephen P.
AU - Khandker, Maheruh
AU - Moore, Katherine M.
AU - Abramowitz, Jonathan S.
PY - 2006
Y1 - 2006
N2 - Previous research has established that parents commonly experience intrusive harm-related thoughts pertaining to their infants (e.g., "My baby might die from SIDS"). Cognitive-behavioral models of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) posit that maladaptive strategies for managing such thoughts play a role in the development and maintenance of obsessional problems. In the present study, we examined (1) the strategies parents used to manage unwanted infant-related thoughts and (2) the relationships between thought control strategies and obsessional and depressive symptoms. Non-treatment-seeking parents (n = 75) of healthy newborns completed measures of intrusive thoughts, thought control strategies, and obsessional and depressive symptoms. Mothers and fathers did not differ in their use of various thought control strategies. Strategies involving distraction, self-punishment, and reappraisal of the intrusive thought were positively related to the severity of obsessional symptoms. Punishment was also positively associated with depressive symptoms. Results are discussed in terms cognitive-behavioral models of OCD.
AB - Previous research has established that parents commonly experience intrusive harm-related thoughts pertaining to their infants (e.g., "My baby might die from SIDS"). Cognitive-behavioral models of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) posit that maladaptive strategies for managing such thoughts play a role in the development and maintenance of obsessional problems. In the present study, we examined (1) the strategies parents used to manage unwanted infant-related thoughts and (2) the relationships between thought control strategies and obsessional and depressive symptoms. Non-treatment-seeking parents (n = 75) of healthy newborns completed measures of intrusive thoughts, thought control strategies, and obsessional and depressive symptoms. Mothers and fathers did not differ in their use of various thought control strategies. Strategies involving distraction, self-punishment, and reappraisal of the intrusive thought were positively related to the severity of obsessional symptoms. Punishment was also positively associated with depressive symptoms. Results are discussed in terms cognitive-behavioral models of OCD.
KW - Cognitive-behavioral theory
KW - Depression
KW - Obsessions
KW - Postpartum
KW - Postpartum depression
KW - Thought control
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U2 - 10.1891/jcpiq-v20i4a007
DO - 10.1891/jcpiq-v20i4a007
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:33845654874
VL - 20
SP - 435
EP - 445
JO - Journal of Cognitive Psychotherapy: An International Quarterly
JF - Journal of Cognitive Psychotherapy: An International Quarterly
SN - 0889-8391
IS - 4
ER -