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Obsessive Compulsive and Related Disorders

OCD Genetics and Reproductive Decision Making: Attitudes toward Termination following Prenatal Testing

(PS2-85) OCD Genetics and Reproductive Decision Making: Attitudes Toward Termination Following Prenatal Testing

Friday, November 15, 2024
10:00 AM – 11:00 AM EST
Location: Franklin Hall, Level 4, Marriott Downtown
Abstract Text: Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is a condition characterized by obsessions (unwanted and distressing intrusive thoughts or urges) and compulsions (repetitive, intentional action done to alleviate anxiety). Prior research suggests psychiatric conditions may lead to important considerations around reproductive decision making, but limited research has examined this among individuals with OCD. This is particularly relevant, as OCD has high disease heritability which often results in increased risk for certain individuals passing predispositions for OCD development to future offspring. The present study aims to explore how OCD severity may relate to their attitudes towards pregnancy and termination if genetic testing could reveal different levels of OCD severity in future offspring. Furthermore, this study assessed potential differences in opinions following the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade by comparing data collected prior to, and after, this ruling. 

A total of 300 female participants with a self-reported OCD diagnosis completed an online survey assessing attitudes towards reproductive decision making in relation to genetic testing for OCD, attitudes towards pregnancy and termination, and self-reported OCD symptom severity which was assessed using the National Institute of Mental Health-Global Obsessive Compulsive Scale.  The present study focused on those assigned female at birth due to greater reproductive risks and costs. 

Of the 300 participants, 138 participants indicated that there are circumstances where termination is acceptable (Mage = 27.96, SD = 6.32). Data from these participants were subsequently analyzed. To assess the relationship between participant’s OCD severity and their reported likelihood to pursue termination following genetic testing, simple correlations indicated that, as a participant’s OCD severity increases (M = 6.89, SD = 2.33) they would be more likely to terminate (r = 0.175, p = 0.40) if genetic testing reveals that their offspring would be at risk for marked OCD symptom severity; M = 1.89, SD = 1.15. Although, it is important to note this result was isolated to the marked OCD symptom severity condition; participant OCD severity was not found to be associated with likelihood to terminate at any other level of offspring OCD severity (e.g., subclinical, mild, moderate, severe, most severe) as revealed by genetic testing. Among those 138 participants included in assessment, 116 were assessed prior to the Roe v. Wade decision leak and 22 afterwards. There were no significant differences in their self-reported likelihood in terminating a pregnancy if genetic testing could reveal their child’s OCD severity; t(136) = 1.578, p = 0.117.

Due to the inconsistent correlational relationships between participant OCD severity and likelihood to pursue termination in different genetic testing cases, the results of the present study do not suggest that a participant’s OCD severity relates to termination likelihood across different levels of potential OCD severity as revealed by genetic testing. These results pose ethical implications related to genetic testing as it pertains to OCD etiology and individual rights to informed reproductive decisions. 
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