Nearly All New Parents Experience Distressing Intrusive Thoughts, Study Finds
A new study published in Community Mental Health Journal reveals the surprisingly high prevalence of distressing intrusive thoughts and even psychotic-like experiences among new parents, highlighting a critical need for expanded mental health support during the perinatal period.
Researchers surveyed nearly 350 parents within the first year after childbirth and discovered that over 90% reported experiencing distressing intrusive thoughts – unwanted, often disturbing thoughts about harming their baby or experiencing other negative outcomes. Almost 90% also reported experiencing psychotic-like experiences, such as unusual perceptions or paranoid ideas. While these experiences are not necessarily indicative of mental illness, experts emphasize their potential to cause significant distress and contribute to anxiety and depression.
“This study reveals that intrusive thoughts and psychotic-like experiences are surprisingly common among new parents, and often deeply distressing,” said Dr. Atheeshaan Arumuham, an Academic Clinical Fellow at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN), King’s College London.
The findings underscore the importance of recognizing these experiences as relatively common, yet potentially debilitating, aspects of early parenthood. However, experts caution against overinterpretation of the results, given the study’s methodology. The research relied on self-reported data collected through an online survey, potentially attracting individuals already concerned about their mental health.
“Because the study relied on self-reported data from an online survey, it may overrepresent parents already struggling with mental health concerns,” Dr. Arumuham explained. “Also, as the data were collected at one time point, it is difficult to interpret the progression of these experiences and whether they can predict later illness.”
The study’s design, specifically its recruitment method via internet and social media, likely contributed to the higher levels of distress observed, according to Dr. Kyla Vaillancourt, a chartered member of the British Psychological Society and Clinical Psychologist. “Those who responded could be more concerned about their mental health or more motivated to share their experiences,” she noted, contrasting this with studies recruiting parents from routine hospital settings.
It’s crucial to differentiate these experiences from postpartum psychosis, a rare but serious and treatable condition. The study’s findings emphasize the need for greater public awareness and improved training for healthcare professionals to appropriately respond to parental distress. “Sensitive, well-informed information and responses from health professionals can reduce distress and increase the likelihood that parents who need extra support will seek help and access it,” Dr. Vaillancourt stated.
The research also sheds light on the mental health challenges faced by fathers, a demographic often overlooked in perinatal mental health discussions. Prof Carmine Pariante, Professor of Biological Psychiatry at King’s College London, pointed out that the large proportion of fathers reporting difficulties aligns with growing societal concerns about male mental health. “The perinatal period…points to a time where fathers might seek help,” he said.
However, Prof. Pariante also cautioned against drawing overly alarming conclusions, such as the claim that almost all parents have intrusive thoughts and a third are at risk of developing psychosis. He attributed these conclusions to the study’s design, which likely attracted individuals already experiencing these concerns. Intrusive thoughts and fleeting hallucinations are already known to be common during the perinatal period due to stress, sleep deprivation, and anxiety.
Dr. Claire Wilson, NIHR Advanced Fellow and Honorary Consultant Psychiatrist at King’s College London, emphasized the critical role of parental mental health in building healthy families. While acknowledging the study’s limitations in determining the true frequency of these experiences, she highlighted the significance of the distress they caused and their impact on parents’ perceived abilities. “Distress and impairment in functioning are some of the criteria for a mental illness, which requires prompt identification and treatment,” she explained.
Future research should focus on tracking parents over time and recruiting participants through healthcare settings to obtain a more representative sample. This would allow clinicians to better distinguish between common, transient symptoms and those requiring intervention. “. Collecting a more representative sample with richer demographic data can also clarify how sociocultural factors shape these experiences.”
The study, ‘Postnatal Intrusive Thoughts and Psychotic-Like Experiences: Exploring Associations with Parenting Experiences and Mental Health’ by Dr. Jo Hodgekins et al., was published on December 3, 2025, in Community Mental Health Journal.
