The course of panic disorder during pregnancy remains unclear. Case reports of pregnant women with preexisting panic disorder have suggested a decrease in symptoms during pregnancy. One of the only prospective studies, however, found no decrease in panic symptoms during pregnancy. In contrast, research studies have more consistently shown that the postpartum period is a time of increased susceptibility both to the onset as well as the exacerbation of preexisting symptoms of panic disorder. An obsessive thought is one that cannot be controlled and returns frequently in unwanted patterns.
Compulsive behaviors occur in the form of repetitive rituals that dominate one's life.
Women with preexisting OCD may also be at an increased risk for developing major depression in the postpartum period. Factors that predict the course of OCD during pregnancy and the postpartum period have not yet been determined. Biopsychosocial Treatment of Mood and Anxiety Disorders During Pregnancy and the Postpartum Period When dealing with peripartum mood and anxiety disorders, most clinics use a multidisciplinary approach based on a biopsychosocial model of treatment. For women with moderate to severe symptoms, or for those who are at an increased risk of relapse, antidepressant medications should be considered. For women who are acutely suicidal or psychotic, as well as for those who are nonresponsive or cannot tolerate pharmacotherapy, electroconvulsive therapy may be indicated.