Postpartum Scary Thoughts:A Guide for Healthcare Providers
Screen for Scary Thoughts:“Are you having any thoughts that are scaring you?”
Scary thoughts are a very common symptom of postpartum depression.Scary thoughts are defined as negative, repetitive, unwanted, intrusive thoughts that can bombard a womanand feel as if they come out of nowhere.The majority of both mothers (91%) and fathers (88%) report intrusive thoughts about their baby at somepoint following the baby’s birth (Abramowitz, 2006).Scary thoughts can come in the form of thoughts (“what if I burn the baby in the bath?”) or images (visons of the baby falling down the stairs) or impulses (“what if I can’t help it and I hurt my baby?”) Scary thoughts canbe indirect or passive (something might happen to the baby) or they can imply intention.Scary thoughts are NOT an indication of psychosis. They can make a woman feel as if she is going crazy butshe is not.A MOTHER’S ANXIETY OR DISTRESS OVER THESE THOUGHTS IS A GOOD SIGN. This means the thoughts areanxiety-driven and will respond well to treatment.Scary thoughts can be part of a postpartum obsessive-compulsive disorder or they may occur in the absenceof this diagnosis.All women who disclose that they are concerned about any thoughts they are having should be referred to amental health provider who can assess for proper treatment.
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