BC Children's Hospital Research Institute (BCCHR) Researchers Find a Researcher

Nichole Fairbrother

(She/They)

PhD

Investigator, BC Children's Hospital

My research focuses on mental health during pregnancy and after birth, particularly anxiety disorders, and thoughts of infant-related harm and their relationship with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and infant safety. Most new parents experience unwanted, intrusive thoughts (UITs) of harm related to their baby. UITs of infant-related harm can include thoughts of accidental harm to one’s infant (e.g., what if I fall while carrying my baby) or UITs of harming one’s infant on purpose (e.g., I could step on my baby). These thoughts are often upsetting, confusing, and difficult to talk about. For vulnerable people they can develop into OCD.

My work has helped to clarify that perinatally occurring OCD may affect up to 17% of new birthing parents, and that UITs of infant-related harm are very common, but not associated with any increased risk of infant abuse. In fact, they may reflect a heightened sense of responsibility and concern for the baby. Because of stigma and fear of being judged, many parents do not disclose these experiences or seek help. My research aims to better understand how common these thoughts are, why they occur, and what they mean for both parent well-being and infant safety. We are also seeking to improve how healthcare providers respond to these experiences and to develop educational tools that reduce stigma, support parents, and promote early identification and effective care.

My research also focuses on improving how anxiety disorders are identified during pregnancy and after birth. In a large study across British Columbia, I am examining which screening tools are most accurate for detecting anxiety and related conditions. This work addresses an important gap in care, as these disorders are common but often go unrecognized in routine practice. By improving screening and awareness, my research aims to ensure more parents receive timely support and treatment, ultimately improving outcomes for both parents and their infants.

Nichole Fairbrother

(She/They)

PhD

Investigator, BC Children's Hospital

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Publications

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Relationship Between Attachment Functioning and Symptoms of Separation Anxiety and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder in a Sample of Postpartum People

Prevalence of physical abuse by caregivers toward infants aged 0-24 months: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Unwanted Intrusive Thoughts of Infant-Related Sexual Harm: Prevalence and Assessment of Safety.

Diagnostic classification of fear of childbirth: why specific phobia may not be enough.

Anxiety and Related Disorders During the Perinatal Period.

The relationship of childhood maltreatment, adult sexual victimization, depressed mood and symptoms of trauma with fear of childbirth.

Perinatal Timing of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Onset.

Prevalence and Course of Unwanted, Intrusive Thoughts of Infant-Related Harm.

Multidimensional Measurement of Attitudes Toward Consensual Non-Monogamy.

Perinatal anxiety disorders screening study: a study protocol.

Prepartum and postpartum mothers' and fathers' feelings of frustration in response to infant crying.

Perinatal anxiety disorders screening study: A study protocol

Systematic Screening for Perinatal Anxiety and why it Matters.

Interest in prenatal stress management training: association with medical risk and mental health.

Pregnancy-Specific Anxiety Tool (PSAT): Instrument Development and Psychometric Evaluation.

Assessment of Canadian perinatal mental health services from the provider perspective: Where can we improve?

The Childbirth Fear Questionnaire and the Wijma Delivery Expectancy Questionnaire as Screening Tools for Specific Phobia, Fear of Childbirth.

Assessment of Canadian perinatal mental health services from the perspective of providers: Where can we improve?

Postpartum Thoughts of Infant-Related Harm and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: Relation to Maternal Physical Aggression Toward the Infant.

Screening for Perinatal Anxiety Using the Childbirth Fear Questionnaire: A New Measure of Fear of Childbirth

The Childbirth Fear Questionnaire and the Wijma Delivery Expectancy Questionnaire as Screening Tools for Specific Phobia, Fear of Childbirth

Screening for Perinatal OCD: A Comparison of the DOCS and the EPDS.

High Prevalence of Perinatal-Occurring Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: Reply to Di Giacomo et al.

The Childbirth Fear Questionnaire: A New Measure of Fear of Childbirth

High Prevalence and Incidence of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Among Women Across Pregnancy and the Postpartum.

Anxiety among women experiencing medically complicated pregnancy: A systematic review and meta-analysis

The prevalence of anxiety disorders during pregnancy and the postpartum period: A multivariate Bayesian meta-analysis

Psychometric Properties and Clinical Utility of the Specific Phobia Questionnaire in an Anxiety Disorders Sample

Open Relationship Prevalence, Characteristics, and Correlates in a Nationally Representative Sample of Canadian Adults

When soothing succeeds: Simulating a risk for repeated shaking in abusive head trauma in infants

Screening for perinatal anxiety disorders: Room to grow

Prepartum and postpartum mothers' and fathers' unwanted, intrusive thoughts in response to infant crying

Maternal unwanted and intrusive thoughts of infant-related harm, obsessive-compulsive disorder and depression in the perinatal period: Study protocol

Critical incidents that help and hinder the development and maintenance of polyamorous relationships

Does molimina indicate ovulation? Prospective data in a hormonally documented single-cycle in spontaneously menstruating women

Childbirth Fear: Relation to Birth and Care Provider Preferences

A Bayesian multivariate approach to estimating the prevalence of a superordinate category of disorders

Fine tuning fear of childbirth: the relationship between Childbirth Fear Questionnaire subscales and demographic and reproductive variables

Correlates and predictors of new mothers' responses to postpartum thoughts of accidental and intentional harm and obsessive compulsive symptoms

A systematic review of nonpharmacological prenatal interventions for pregnancy-specific anxiety and fear of childbirth

The prevalence and incidence of perinatal anxiety disorders among women experiencing a medically complicated pregnancy

Perinatal anxiety disorder prevalence and incidence

Maternal thoughts of harm in response to infant crying: an experimental analysis

Depression and anxiety during the perinatal period

The Canadian birth place study: Examining maternity care provider attitudes and interprofessional conflict around planned home birth

Maternal frustration, emotional and behavioural responses to prolonged infant crying

The Canadian Birth Place Study: Describing maternity practice and providers' exposure to home birth

Fertility and aging: Do reproductive-aged Canadian women know what they need to know?

Reproductive-aged women's knowledge and attitudes regarding infant-feeding practices: An experimental evaluation

"it's all the rage these days": University students' attitudes toward vaginal and cesarean birth

New mothers' thoughts of harm related to the newborn

Psychometric Evaluation of the Multidimensional Assessment of Fatigue Scale for Use With Pregnant and Postpartum Women

New parenthood as a risk factor for the development of obsessional problems

Fear of childbirth and obstetrical events as predictors of postnatal symptoms of depression and post-traumatic stress disorder

PTSD in victims of sexual assault: Test of a major component of the Ehlers-Clark theory

Mental pollution: Feelings of dirtiness without physical contact

Relation between prenatal maternal mood and anxiety and neonatal health.

Feelings of mental pollution subsequent to sexual assault

Sexual Assault of Women: Prevention Efforts and Risk Factors

Relation between prenatal maternal mood and anxiety and neonatal health

The treatment of social phobia - 100 Years ago

Sociotropy, autonomy, and self-discrepancy: Status in depressed, remitted depressed, and control participants

Prevalence of Physical Abuse by Caregivers Toward Infants Aged 0"24 Months: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Research

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Perinatal Anxiety Disorders Screening Study

Postpartum Intrusive Thoughts of Infant-Related Harm

Improving new parents' mental health via an educational video about infant-related harm thoughts

Grants