Online Self-Help for Parents with Intrusive Thoughts About Harming Their Child

What you need to know

• Many parents experience unwanted intrusive thoughts about harming their child, which can cause distress
• An online self-guided cognitive intervention helped parents interpret these thoughts more flexibly
• Parents reported reduced distress, improved wellbeing, and better parenting after the intervention
• The anonymity and flexibility of the online format was seen as beneficial by participants

Understanding intrusive thoughts in parents

About half of all parents experience unwanted intrusive thoughts about intentionally harming their child. These can include thoughts of throwing, burning, or stabbing the baby. While very distressing, these thoughts do not mean the parent is actually at risk of harming their child.

Many parents feel ashamed of these thoughts and are afraid to tell anyone, even healthcare providers. They may fear being seen as an unfit parent or having their child taken away. This can prevent parents from getting help and support.

A new online intervention

Researchers developed an online self-guided cognitive intervention to help parents manage these intrusive thoughts. The intervention teaches parents skills to interpret the thoughts more flexibly and reduce distress. It includes:

• Education about intrusive thoughts
• Cognitive restructuring exercises
• Behavioral experiments
• Strategies for setbacks

The intervention is delivered entirely online with no therapist involvement. Parents work through 6 modules at their own pace.

How parents experienced the intervention

The researchers interviewed 8 parents who completed the online intervention to understand their experiences. Two main themes emerged:

1. Changed perception of intrusive thoughts
2. Different paths to recovery

Changed perception of thoughts

Parents reported the intervention helped them view their intrusive thoughts in a more balanced way. They learned the thoughts were common and did not mean they would act on them. This led to reduced anxiety and distress.

Many parents said their parenting and wellbeing improved. For example, one parent said “I’m not afraid to be alone with the baby now.” Another noted they could now cook and do dishes without anxiety when alone with their child.

Different paths to recovery

While all parents found the intervention helpful overall, they had different experiences with specific components:

• Most found the initial education about intrusive thoughts very beneficial
• Some appreciated applying cognitive restructuring to their own thoughts
• A few had difficulty understanding or applying certain concepts on their own
• Several felt they improved quickly and did not need to complete all modules

Parents liked the flexibility of the online format, allowing them to access it anytime. However, some wished for a smartphone version or additional therapist support to increase motivation.

The anonymity was seen as crucial by many parents who were uncomfortable disclosing their thoughts to others.

Conclusions

• An online self-guided cognitive intervention can help parents manage intrusive thoughts about harming their child
• Parents report reduced distress and improved parenting after learning to view the thoughts more flexibly
• The anonymity and flexibility of the online format helps overcome barriers to seeking help
• Some customization or additional support options may further improve the intervention for some parents