I am 28, and I was recently diagnosed with OCD. I have also suffered from anxiety for about three years but never sought out any treatment. My wife just gave birth to our first child. While she was in her last trimester, I began to have violent and disturbing thoughts toward her. This leads me into panic attacks. I do not have any rituals that I do except try to rationalize in my head why I have this thought. When I am not having an episode, I know the thought is irrational. Has there ever been a case where someone with OCD has actually harmed a family member? Is my wife in any danger?

D.M.

I am not aware of a situation in which someone with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) has harmed a family member, but that doesn't mean it hasn't happened. I recommend that you discuss your questions fully in person with a licensed therapist. Even if you never physically harm your wife, your thoughts and feelings are clearly distressing you, and thus can affect your personal and perhaps marital well-being.

You don't mention who diagnosed your OCD or whether you're receiving any treatment. Treatment for OCD can consist of psychoactive medication and/or psychotherapy, including behavior therapy aimed at any obsessive/compulsive behaviors or rituals. (You don't mention any compulsive behaviors, though -- primarily obsessive thoughts and anxiety/panic.) Psychotherapy alone has been shown to be as effective as medication in alleviating OCD, and can also effectively address anxiety and panic.

Because your main concern -- understandably -- is that you might harm your wife, it may be important for you to know that some people have claimed psychiatric medications actually increased their violent tendencies. I'm not aware of any case in which that has actually been proven, however, and of course many people find medication to be helpful. If you've been prescribed or are considering taking medication for OCD, be sure to discuss this issue thoroughly with your physician.

If I had a client who developed obsessive thoughts (especially about violence) while his wife was pregnant with their first child, I'd want to talk with him in depth about his feelings about becoming a parent, children in general, etc. What was his childhood like? His parents' relationship with each other? Does he have any fears regarding children or parenting, or women? Was he exposed to domestic violence while he was growing up? If any of these questions resonate with you, consider discussing them with your therapist during the course of your treatment for OCD. Good luck.