Mothers' and professionals' experiences of perinatal OCD on MBUs
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A qualitative investigation into the experiences of mothers with perinatal obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) who have received treatment on Mother and Baby Units (MBUs) and the experiences of professionals working with women with perinatal OCD in this environment.
IRAS ID
322999
Contact name
Fiona Challacombe
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
King's College London
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
N/A, N/A
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 2 months, 30 days
Research summary
Perinatal obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is a common mental health problem that is extremely distressing for mothers and their families. A percentage of mothers with perinatal OCD require inpatient admission to Mother and Baby Units (MBUs), due to the severity of their OCD. However, case literature suggests that the MBU environment may pose a number of challenges to the identification & subsequent treatment of perinatal OCD and may inadvertently maintain OCD symptoms rather than reduce them.
To date there has been no research exploring the identification or treatment of perinatal OCD on MBUs. The aims of this proposed research are to gain an understanding of: how women with perinatal OCD experience admission and discharge from MBUs, professionals' experience of assessing and /or working with women with perinatal OCD on MBUs, current treatment for perinatal OCD on MBUs, and facilitators/barriers to identifying and treating perinatal OCD on MBUs. It is hoped that this study will support the development of effective treatment approaches and guidelines for working with women with perinatal OCD on MBUs.
This study will involve interviewing mothers who have received treatment on MBUs for perinatal OCD. Mothers will be asked about the care and treatment they received on the MBU, and any perceived benefits or challenges associated with treatment. We will also interview professionals who have worked with women with perinatal OCD on MBUs. Professionals will be asked about treatment approaches on MBUs for OCD and perceived advantages or challenges of treating perinatal OCD in this environment.
Interviews will be recorded and then transcribed. Transcripts will be analysed using thematic analysis - a method of qualitative analysis that involves identifying themes, or patterns across the transcripts.
The study will be conducted at South London & Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, Mother and Baby Unit. The study will last approx. 1 year and 2 months.
REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - Leeds West Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
23/YH/0118
Date of REC Opinion
16 Jun 2023
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion