Psychometric properties of the postpartum thoughts and behaviors checklist

Abstract

Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) has an increased prevalence throughout pregnancy and in the postpartum period relative to non-peripartum periods. While some obsessive-compulsive symptoms in this period present in the same manner to those in non-postpartum OCD, others are more specific to the postpartum period (e.g., obsessions related to sudden infant death syndrome [SIDS]). However, there are few validated scales assessing obsessive-compulsive symptoms during the postpartum period. This study examined the psychometric properties of the Postpartum Thoughts and Behaviors Checklist (PTBC), a semi-structured interview of intrusive thoughts and repetitive, neutralizing behaviors developed to address this gap. In a sample of 257 women at 6 weeks postpartum, the PTBC demonstrated good internal consistency, criterion validity between individuals with a diagnosis of OCD and those without, and convergent validity with the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale, and Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory-Revised. Additionally, using a LCA approach, the PTBC demonstrated a 3-class structure of the thoughts and the behaviors subscales. Overall, these results provide psychometric evidence that the PTBC is reliable and valid and can be used to assess the prevalence and severity of postpartum obsessions and compulsions.