{"formatVersion":"1.1","id":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/answers/i-have-ocd-will-this-increase-my-childs-chance-of-developing-autism","path":"/answers/i-have-ocd-will-this-increase-my-childs-chance-of-developing-autism","url":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/answers/i-have-ocd-will-this-increase-my-childs-chance-of-developing-autism","title":"Does my OCD increase the risk of my child developing autism?","family":"Answers detail","description":"A prospective parent with OCD asks whether their child could inherit OCD or face an increased chance of autism.","language":"en-US","access":{"audience":"custom-shared-preview","indexable":true},"provenance":{"sourceUrl":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/answers/i-have-ocd-will-this-increase-my-childs-chance-of-developing-autism","wordpressId":"6166","contentCompleteness":"complete","dateScope":"original-source"},"authors":[{"@type":"Person","@id":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/people/allan-schwartz#person","name":"Allan Schwartz, Ph.D.","url":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/people/allan-schwartz"}],"reviewer":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/people/jesse-hanson#person","name":"Jesse Hanson, Ph.D.","url":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/people/jesse-hanson"},"dates":{"datePublished":"2024-06-01T00:35:12Z","dateModified":"2026-05-24T19:20:03Z","lastReviewed":"2025-09-15"},"content":{"html":"<nav class=\"breadcrumbs\" aria-label=\"Breadcrumb\"><ol><li><a href=\"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/\">Home</a></li><li><a href=\"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/answers\">Answers</a></li><li><span aria-current=\"page\">Does my OCD increase the risk of my child developing autism?</span></li></ol></nav><div class=\"article-page answer-page\" data-answer-template=\"conversation\"><header class=\"answer-heading article-heading\"><a class=\"answer-back\" href=\"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/answers\">Answers</a><h1>Does my Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) increase the risk of my child developing autism?</h1><div class=\"answer-credits\"><a class=\"answer-credit-person\" href=\"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/people/allan-schwartz\"><img src=\"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/assets/wordpress/9429.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"40\" height=\"40\" loading=\"lazy\"><span><span class=\"answer-credit-role\">Written by</span><span class=\"answer-credit-name\">Allan Schwartz, Ph.D.</span></span></a><a class=\"answer-credit-person\" href=\"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/people/jesse-hanson\"><img src=\"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/assets/wordpress/9210.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"40\" height=\"40\" loading=\"lazy\"><span><span class=\"answer-credit-role\">Medically reviewed by</span><span class=\"answer-credit-name\">Jesse Hanson, Ph.D.</span></span></a></div><dl class=\"answer-heading-dates\"><div><dt>Published</dt><dd><time datetime=\"2024-06-01T00:35:12Z\">June 1, 2024</time></dd></div><div><dt>Updated</dt><dd><time datetime=\"2026-05-24T19:20:03Z\">May 24, 2026</time></dd></div><div><dt>Reviewed</dt><dd><time datetime=\"2025-09-15\">September 15, 2025</time></dd></div></dl></header><nav class=\"answer-nav\" aria-label=\"Answer navigation\"><a href=\"#summary\">Summary</a><a href=\"#question\">Question</a><a href=\"#answer\">Answer</a></nav><article class=\"prose\" id=\"article-content\" data-answer-thread aria-label=\"Reader question and professional response\"><section class=\"answer-overview\" id=\"summary\" aria-labelledby=\"summary-title\"><h2 id=\"summary-title\">Summary</h2><figure class=\"answer-question-image\"><img src=\"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/assets/answers/i-have-ocd-will-this-increase-my-childs-chance-of-developing-autism-20261003.webp\" alt=\"Two adults tending herbs in blue pots on a balcony.\" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\" fetchpriority=\"high\"></figure><p>A prospective parent with Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) asks whether their child could inherit OCD or face an increased chance of autism. They have encountered claims about a connection between autism and parental anxiety online.</p><p>The historical response discourages becoming absorbed in speculative internet claims and offers reassurance about support available to autistic children.</p><p>It does not provide a numerical risk estimate or establish the proposed connection from the reader's information.</p><p>Its discussion includes unsupported causal speculation and should be understood as an archived personal response rather than a current evidence-based assessment of autism or inherited risk.</p></section><div class=\"answer-originals\" id=\"original-conversation\"><div class=\"answer-originals-body\"><section class=\"answer-post answer-question\" id=\"question\" aria-labelledby=\"question-person\"><div class=\"answer-avatar answer-reader\" aria-hidden=\"true\">?</div><div class=\"answer-post-content\"><header class=\"answer-person\"><h2 id=\"question-person\">Question</h2><span>Reader · Identity withheld</span></header><p>I have read that children with Autism may have a parent with an anxiety related disorder, such as OCD. </p>\n<p>What are the odds of passing OCD on to my child–or in a worse case, elevating my child’s chance of developing autism?</p></div></section><section class=\"answer-post answer-response\" id=\"answer\" aria-labelledby=\"response-person\"><a class=\"answer-avatar\" href=\"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/people/allan-schwartz\" aria-label=\"View Allan Schwartz, Ph.D. profile\"><img src=\"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/assets/wordpress/9429.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"44\" height=\"44\" loading=\"lazy\"></a><div class=\"answer-post-content\"><header class=\"answer-person\"><h2 id=\"response-person\">Answer</h2><span>Allan Schwartz, Ph.D.</span></header><p>There is very little known about what causes autism except that it is on the rise and scientists are puzzled about why. Speculation has run from the possibility of preservatives used in immunization shots to exposure to electrical currents and a myriad other environment factors including the levels of pollution in the air, ground and water supply.</p>\n<p>While not knowing the cause of this disorder and while it is very frustrating and anxiety arousing there is no useful purpose to be gained about vague speculations found on the Internet. </p>\n<p>Frankly, I have read nothing about a connection between anxiety disorders of any kind, including OCD and autism. </p>\n<p>What I can tell you that if a child does have one of the autism spectrum disorders wonderful things are being done to enable them to grow and live happy and normal lives.</p>\n<p>Please do not worry yourself about highly speculative and doubtful things. </p>\n<p>I sincerely doubt that there is any connection between anxiety disorders in mothers and infants developing autism. </p>\n<p>If anxiety in mothers was a cause of autism we would have a world wide pandemic of autism and no such pandemic exists.</p>\n<p>Best of Luck</p></div></section></div></div></article><div class=\"answer-endmatter\"><section class=\"article-expert answer-expert-card\" aria-label=\"Subject matter expert\" data-expert-kind=\"related\"><a class=\"answer-card-avatar\" href=\"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/people/holly-schiff\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><img src=\"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/assets/wordpress/11503.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"64\" height=\"64\" loading=\"lazy\"></a><div class=\"answer-expert-copy\"><p class=\"article-bio-role\">Subject matter expert</p><h2><a href=\"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/people/holly-schiff\">Holly Schiff <span class=\"expert-credentials\">Psy.D.</span></a></h2><p class=\"article-expert-focus\">Children, adolescents, and families</p><a class=\"profile-experience-link experience-button\" href=\"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/people/holly-schiff\">View experience</a></div></section><section class=\"article-topic-community\" aria-label=\"Related communities\"><img class=\"topic-community-banner\" src=\"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/assets/library/editorial-12146.webp\" alt=\"\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" loading=\"lazy\"><p class=\"topic-community-label\">Related communities</p><h2>Autism Spectrum Disorder</h2><p>A space for perspectives on autistic experiences, connection, and support across life stages.</p><a href=\"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/community/autism-spectrum-disorder\">Explore community</a></section><section class=\"answer-author-card answer-reviewer-card\"><a class=\"answer-card-avatar\" href=\"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/people/allan-schwartz\"><img src=\"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/assets/wordpress/9429.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"64\" height=\"64\" loading=\"lazy\"></a><div><span class=\"answer-reviewer-label\">Author</span><h2><a href=\"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/people/allan-schwartz\">Allan Schwartz, Ph.D.</a></h2><p>Allan Schwartz, LCSW, Ph.D., is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 30 years of private practice experience.</p><a href=\"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/people/allan-schwartz\" class=\"profile-experience-link experience-button\">View experience</a></div></section><section class=\"answer-author-card answer-reviewer-card\"><a class=\"answer-card-avatar\" href=\"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/people/jesse-hanson\"><img src=\"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/assets/wordpress/9210.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"64\" height=\"64\" loading=\"lazy\"></a><div><span class=\"answer-reviewer-label\">Medical reviewer</span><h2><a href=\"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/people/jesse-hanson\">Jesse Hanson, Ph.D.</a></h2><p>Jesse Hanson, Ph.D., is a clinical and somatic psychologist with over 20 years of experience in neuropsychology, specializing in integrative, mind-body…</p><a href=\"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/people/jesse-hanson\" class=\"profile-experience-link experience-button\">View experience</a></div></section><section class=\"answer-related\"><h2>Related questions</h2><a href=\"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/answers/10-year-old-dreaming-of-killing\">Are my child’s dreams a cause for concern?</a><a href=\"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/answers/will-my-boyfriend-eventually-hit-me\">Will my boyfriend eventually hit me?</a><a href=\"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/answers/will-i-ever-feel-normal\">Will I ever feel normal?</a></section></div></div>","text":"HomeAnswersDoes my OCD increase the risk of my child developing autism?AnswersDoes my Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) increase the risk of my child developing autism?Written byAllan Schwartz, Ph.D.Medically reviewed byJesse Hanson, Ph.D.PublishedJune 1, 2024UpdatedMay 24, 2026ReviewedSeptember 15, 2025SummaryQuestionAnswerSummaryA prospective parent with Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) asks whether their child could inherit OCD or face an increased chance of autism. They have encountered claims about a connection between autism and parental anxiety online.The historical response discourages becoming absorbed in speculative internet claims and offers reassurance about support available to autistic children.It does not provide a numerical risk estimate or establish the proposed connection from the reader's information.Its discussion includes unsupported causal speculation and should be understood as an archived personal response rather than a current evidence-based assessment of autism or inherited risk.?QuestionReader · Identity withheldI have read that children with Autism may have a parent with an anxiety related disorder, such as OCD. What are the odds of passing OCD on to my child–or in a worse case, elevating my child’s chance of developing autism?AnswerAllan Schwartz, Ph.D.There is very little known about what causes autism except that it is on the rise and scientists are puzzled about why. Speculation has run from the possibility of preservatives used in immunization shots to exposure to electrical currents and a myriad other environment factors including the levels of pollution in the air, ground and water supply. While not knowing the cause of this disorder and while it is very frustrating and anxiety arousing there is no useful purpose to be gained about vague speculations found on the Internet. Frankly, I have read nothing about a connection between anxiety disorders of any kind, including OCD and autism. What I can tell you that if a child does have one of the autism spectrum disorders wonderful things are being done to enable them to grow and live happy and normal lives. Please do not worry yourself about highly speculative and doubtful things. I sincerely doubt that there is any connection between anxiety disorders in mothers and infants developing autism. If anxiety in mothers was a cause of autism we would have a world wide pandemic of autism and no such pandemic exists. Best of LuckSubject matter expertHolly Schiff Psy.D.Children, adolescents, and familiesView experienceRelated communitiesAutism Spectrum DisorderA space for perspectives on autistic experiences, connection, and support across life stages.Explore communityAuthorAllan Schwartz, Ph.D.Allan Schwartz, LCSW, Ph.D., is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 30 years of private practice experience.View experienceMedical reviewerJesse Hanson, Ph.D.Jesse Hanson, Ph.D., is a clinical and somatic psychologist with over 20 years of experience in neuropsychology, specializing in integrative, mind-body…View experienceRelated questionsAre my child’s dreams a cause for concern?Will my boyfriend eventually hit me?Will I ever feel 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What are the odds of passing OCD on to my child–or in a worse case, elevating my child’s chance of developing autism?","acceptedAnswer":{"@id":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/answers/i-have-ocd-will-this-increase-my-childs-chance-of-developing-autism#answer"},"inLanguage":"en-US","url":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/answers/i-have-ocd-will-this-increase-my-childs-chance-of-developing-autism#question","answerCount":1},{"@type":"Answer","@id":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/answers/i-have-ocd-will-this-increase-my-childs-chance-of-developing-autism#answer","text":"There is very little known about what causes autism except that it is on the rise and scientists are puzzled about why. Speculation has run from the possibility of preservatives used in immunization shots to exposure to electrical currents and a myriad other environment factors including the levels of pollution in the air, ground and water supply. 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byAllan Schwartz, Ph.D."},{"url":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/people/jesse-hanson","label":"Medically reviewed byJesse Hanson, Ph.D."},{"url":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/answers/i-have-ocd-will-this-increase-my-childs-chance-of-developing-autism#summary","label":"Summary"},{"url":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/answers/i-have-ocd-will-this-increase-my-childs-chance-of-developing-autism#question","label":"Question"},{"url":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/answers/i-have-ocd-will-this-increase-my-childs-chance-of-developing-autism#answer","label":"Answer"},{"url":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/people/allan-schwartz","label":""},{"url":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/people/holly-schiff","label":""},{"url":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/people/holly-schiff","label":"Holly Schiff Psy.D."},{"url":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/people/holly-schiff","label":"View experience"},{"url":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/community/autism-spectrum-disorder","label":"Explore community"},{"url":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/people/allan-schwartz","label":""},{"url":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/people/allan-schwartz","label":"Allan Schwartz, Ph.D."},{"url":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/people/allan-schwartz","label":"View experience"},{"url":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/people/jesse-hanson","label":""},{"url":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/people/jesse-hanson","label":"Jesse Hanson, Ph.D."},{"url":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/people/jesse-hanson","label":"View experience"},{"url":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/answers/10-year-old-dreaming-of-killing","label":"Are my child’s dreams a cause for concern?"},{"url":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/answers/will-my-boyfriend-eventually-hit-me","label":"Will my boyfriend eventually hit me?"},{"url":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/answers/will-i-ever-feel-normal","label":"Will I ever feel normal?"}],"conversation":{"status":"complete","summary":{"question":"A prospective parent with OCD asks whether their child could inherit OCD or face an increased chance of autism. They have encountered claims about a connection between autism and parental anxiety online.","answer":"The historical response discourages becoming absorbed in speculative internet claims and offers reassurance about support available to autistic children. It does not provide a numerical risk estimate or establish the proposed connection from the reader's information. Its discussion includes unsupported causal speculation and should be understood as an archived personal response rather than a current evidence-based assessment of autism or inherited risk."},"sourceUrl":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/answers/i-have-ocd-will-this-increase-my-childs-chance-of-developing-autism","sourceReviewer":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/people/jesse-hanson#person","name":"Jesse Hanson, Ph.D.","url":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/people/jesse-hanson"},"question":{"id":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/answers/i-have-ocd-will-this-increase-my-childs-chance-of-developing-autism#question","url":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/answers/i-have-ocd-will-this-increase-my-childs-chance-of-developing-autism#question","html":"<p>I have read that children with Autism may have a parent with an anxiety related disorder, such as OCD. </p>\n<p>What are the odds of passing OCD on to my child–or in a worse case, elevating my child’s chance of developing autism?</p>","text":"I have read that children with Autism may have a parent with an anxiety related disorder, such as OCD. What are the odds of passing OCD on to my child–or in a worse case, elevating my child’s chance of developing autism?"},"answer":{"id":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/answers/i-have-ocd-will-this-increase-my-childs-chance-of-developing-autism#answer","url":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/answers/i-have-ocd-will-this-increase-my-childs-chance-of-developing-autism#answer","html":"<p>There is very little known about what causes autism except that it is on the rise and scientists are puzzled about why. Speculation has run from the possibility of preservatives used in immunization shots to exposure to electrical currents and a myriad other environment factors including the levels of pollution in the air, ground and water supply.</p>\n<p>While not knowing the cause of this disorder and while it is very frustrating and anxiety arousing there is no useful purpose to be gained about vague speculations found on the Internet. </p>\n<p>Frankly, I have read nothing about a connection between anxiety disorders of any kind, including OCD and autism. </p>\n<p>What I can tell you that if a child does have one of the autism spectrum disorders wonderful things are being done to enable them to grow and live happy and normal lives.</p>\n<p>Please do not worry yourself about highly speculative and doubtful things. </p>\n<p>I sincerely doubt that there is any connection between anxiety disorders in mothers and infants developing autism. </p>\n<p>If anxiety in mothers was a cause of autism we would have a world wide pandemic of autism and no such pandemic exists.</p>\n<p>Best of Luck</p>","text":"There is very little known about what causes autism except that it is on the rise and scientists are puzzled about why. Speculation has run from the possibility of preservatives used in immunization shots to exposure to electrical currents and a myriad other environment factors including the levels of pollution in the air, ground and water supply. While not knowing the cause of this disorder and while it is very frustrating and anxiety arousing there is no useful purpose to be gained about vague speculations found on the Internet. Frankly, I have read nothing about a connection between anxiety disorders of any kind, including OCD and autism. What I can tell you that if a child does have one of the autism spectrum disorders wonderful things are being done to enable them to grow and live happy and normal lives. Please do not worry yourself about highly speculative and doubtful things. I sincerely doubt that there is any connection between anxiety disorders in mothers and infants developing autism. If anxiety in mothers was a cause of autism we would have a world wide pandemic of autism and no such pandemic exists. Best of Luck","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/people/allan-schwartz#person","name":"Allan Schwartz, Ph.D.","url":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/people/allan-schwartz"}},"summaryScope":"Editorial overview of the original question and response; original review dates apply to the source conversation."},"presentation":{"updatedAt":"2026-10-03","template":"answer-conversation","imageGeneratedAt":"2026-10-03"},"seo":{"title":"Does my OCD increase the risk of my child | MentalHealth.com","description":"A prospective parent with OCD asks whether their child could inherit OCD or face an increased chance of autism.","canonical":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/answers/i-have-ocd-will-this-increase-my-childs-chance-of-developing-autism","robots":"index,follow","socialImage":{"url":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/assets/social-tiles-20261006-dots/answers.png","width":1200,"height":630,"alt":"MentalHealth.com — Answers","type":"image/png","sitemapGroup":"answers"}},"subjectMatterExpert":{"name":"Holly Schiff, Psy.D.","url":"/people/holly-schiff","profileId":"11457","topic":"children","focus":"Children, adolescents, and families","selectionBasis":"Documented expertise in the existing published profile","reviewAttribution":false},"navigation":[],"relatedCommunity":{"community":"/community/autism-spectrum-disorder","basis":"topic match"},"collections":[]}