Perinatal Anxiety Research Lab is dedicated to promoting the health and well-being of new and expectant mothers, and their babies.
Pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period are times of significant change and challenge, that can have a significant impact on maternal mental health. We look to investigate how mental health can:
• Develop and/or be exacerbated during the perinatal period;
• Affect the physical health of women;
• Ultimately, affect the physical health of their babies.
New Mothers’ Thoughts of Harm
Most new mothers experience unwanted, intrusive thoughts of infant-related harm. We wish to learn more about these kinds of thoughts and their relationship to parenting behaviours.
Fear of Childbirth
Current measure of fear of childbirth fail to assess some key domains of women’s childbirth fears. In an effort to correct these issues we developed the Childbirth Fear Questionnaire (CFQ) which we are currently assessing for clinical significance.
Screening for Perinatal Anxiety Disorders
We are currently investigating which screening tools for anxiety and anxiety-related disorders are the most appropriate for use during pregnancy or the postpartum period.
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Perinatal Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
The perinatal period is a time of increased risk for OCD onset and exacerbation. Perinatal OCD is frequently characterized by unwanted, intrusive thoughts of infant-related harm.
iCBT for Perinatal OCD
Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) is the most effective form of psychosocial treatment for OCD but few tests of CBT for perinatal OCD have been conducted. We are seeking to develop a broadly accessible, internet-based CBT specifically for perinatal OCD.
Maternal OCD Attachment and Separation Anxiety
We are currently investigating the relationship between maternal attachment, fear of separation and obsessions of harm.