OCD and postpartnum depression

[marley1949]

Has there been any research done on OCD intrusive thoughts and postpartum depression?  My daughter has been suffering with this for almost a year.  She is on medication, sees a therapist, and a psychiatrist.  The medication seems to only work for about 3 weeks at a time and then it has to be increased.  She is physically and mentally worn out.

[marley1949]

She is being treated with the CBT therapy and feels very fortunate to have her therapist who is extremely understanding. She actually began with perinatal OCD two months before her delivery.

She is on seriquel and the highest dose of celexa. She has been on adavant and another that I can't remember.(Please excuse the spelling.) Sometimes the side effects seem to be just as bad as the disease.

I appreciate your encouragement and will show my daughter your comments as well.  Thank you.

[marley1949]

Thank you for your care and concern.  I spent the day with her and she is at a very low point. Even though she is comfortable with her therapist and psychiatrist, she feels that they have reached their limit with what they can do to help.  The hardest part is finding the right medical people and getting on the right medicine.  There is no support group other than people she has met online.  
I will pass your encouraging words on to her and also will invite her to join this web page as well.  Thank you again. You too are in my prayers.

[JGF25]

This is a very informative link

http://www.ocdla.com/postpartum-ocd.html

I can't really help you with postpartum.  I actually suffered from perinatal OCD which required me to take medication while pregnant.  I also learned CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) which I happen to think is invaluable.  Hopefully her psychologist is teaching her CBT as well rather than just the psychiatrist throwing meds at it.  

Can I ask how many meds she has tried?  

[elktra236]

  Oh how I can understand what your daughter is going through. That is exactly what happened to me after I had my son. I am not sure about research, but looking back at it now I have always had OCD. I did not have the compulsions, but ohhh those wild thoughts..Pure O as it is called. I would hope that they are treating her for OCD with medication and that she is in therapy. A big concept to grasp for her is that the thoughts focus mainly on those that we love so much. What more does a mother love than her child, it only makes sense. Crazy people do not know that they are crazy, and I would like to think that be upset by her thoughts is only proof that she is not the horrible person that she may think she is when having the thoughts. I still struggle with my anxiety and OCD but it comes and it goes. I too seem to do good for only 3 weeks and then it poops out. I am rather frustrated myself, but I still hope to find a medication that will last longer than a few weeks. I am thinking of asking for Luvox, which is known to help OCD. My thoughts are with you and your family, please continuing to support her and tell her that it does get better. Talking about it helps a great deal and trying to find a hobby that will keep her mind occupied.