Public stigma and recognition of perinatal obsessive-compulsive disorder

Abstract

Stigma is a barrier to disclosure of psychiatric symptoms and treatment seeking among perinatal patients, including those with perinatal obsessive-compulsive disorder (POCD), perinatal depression (PPD), and postpartum psychosis (PPP). This study examines the relationship between stigma, illness recognition, and familiarity with illness in six distinct postpartum experiences. In a cross-sectional online survey, participants (N = 572) were randomized to one of six postpartum vignettes: subclinical, depression, psychosis, and three subtypes of obsessive-compulsive disorder: contamination, responsibility for harm, and sexual content. Participants were asked to provide a diagnostic label of the condition and rate different aspects of stigma. Sexual content POCD, responsibility for harm content POCD, and the subclinical vignettes were less likely to be accurately recognized than PPD, contamination POCD, and PPP. A multivariate analysis of variance revealed the sexual POCD and PPP vignettes were met with the highest level of stigma, while the subclinical condition, PPD, and contamination POCD were met with the lowest levels of stigma. Significant interactions were present between accurate recognition of the condition and type of vignette on stigma variables, with recognition generally being associated with lower stigma for POCD and PPD. This demonstrates the need for comprehensive educational efforts on perinatal mental health.