‘The tragedy of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is that it is not only a destroyer of lives but that, when identified and appropriately treated with evidence based approaches, it can be eliminated however services are limited across the UK for this to happen especially during the perinatal period. This is a time of particular vulnerability to the development of OCD, and its occurrence causes problems not only for those directly involved but also health services who often do not know how to respond. Maternal OCD, a charity run by people with personal experience of this problem, has had a massive positive impact on the understanding of both those affected by perinatal OCD and professionals. I fully support the wonderful work that they do, and very much hope that they will be able to extend their reach to wherever maternal OCD arises in ways which ensure the most appropriate help reaches families when they need it most’
Prof Paul Salkovskis
Professor of Clinical Psychology and Applied Science
Please see below resources for healthcare professionals to use when commissioning services, delivering services and general perinatal mental health need.
Latest book out on how to deliver ‘Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder’
A ‘how to’ guide for healthcare professionals to deliver Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for OCD has recently been published by four OCD specialists including our very own patron Dr Fiona Challacombe
ISBN-13: 978-0198703266
The Royal College of Psychiatrist’s Perinatal OCD for Carers leaflet
Maternal OCD patron Dr Fiona Challacombe and co-founder Maria Bavetta along with Dr Anna Kilsby, Dr Wan Lian Chua and Dr Lucinda Green have co-authored a leaflet called Perinatal OCD for Carers, please click here to read. There are sections for both carers and professionals to help support women.
Poster from #OCDbfing
Dr Chrissy Jayarajah created a poster summarising the initial outcomes from the #OCDbfing campaign focusing on breastfeeding and OCD – more information to come soon! Click here to view the poster in full size.
MMHA Everyone’s Business campaign
The MMHA Everyone’s Business campaign outlines examples of excellent models of perinatal mental health services, click here for more details. Also, click here for the campaign’s resources page with further information.
MMHA Mums and Babies in Mind (MABIM)
MABIM has created a suite of tools to help support the commissioning and delivery of perinatal mental health services, please click here to access their resources.
Maternal Mental Health Alliance (MMHA)
The MMHA has created resource pages to support various audiences interested in perinatal mental health, please click here to access.
RCGP Toolkit – perinatal mental health
The Royal College of General Practitioners has launched a perinatal mental health toolkit – click here for more information.
The British Journal of GPs has recently launched a paper normalising ‘obsessional intrusive thoughts’ and explaining that they are not acted upon. Click here to read more.
Perinatal Mental Health Competency Framework
The Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust is currently working in partnership with Health Education England (HEE) to develop a competency framework for perinatal mental health care skills which will support all professionals working with mothers and families, from preconception until 1 year postnatal. Click here for more details.
Please contact us if you have further resources / suggestions to support health professionals in delivering services for mums with perinatal OCD.