Does my OCD increase the risk of my child developing autism?
Jesse Hanson, Ph.D.
– Written by
Allan Schwartz, Ph.D.
– Updated on May 24, 2026
Question
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?
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Answer
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
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The Clinical Affairs Team at MentalHealth.com is a dedicated group of medical professionals with diverse and extensive clinical experience. They actively contribute to the development of content, products, and services, and meticulously review all medical material before publication to ensure accuracy and alignment with current research and conversations in mental health. For more information, please visit the Editorial Policy.
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MentalHealth.com is a health technology company dedicated to guiding people toward self-understanding and human connection. We provide reliable resources, accessible services, and nurturing communities that educate, support, and empower people throughout their mental health journey.
Jesse Hanson, Ph.D., is a somatic psychologist with more than 20 years of experience in clinical psychology and neuropsychology.
Allan Schwartz, LCSW, Ph.D. is a medical writer with more than 30 years of clinical experience as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. He writes on a wide range of mental health topics, including mood and anxiety disorders, eating disorders, trauma, abuse, stress, and relationship challenges.
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Jesse Hanson, Ph.D.
– Written by
Allan Schwartz, Ph.D.
– Updated on May 24, 2026
Additional Reading
The Clinical Affairs Team at MentalHealth.com is a dedicated group of medical professionals with diverse and extensive clinical experience. They actively contribute to the development of content, products, and services, and meticulously review all medical material before publication to ensure accuracy and alignment with current research and conversations in mental health. For more information, please visit the Editorial Policy.
MentalHealth.com is a health technology company dedicated to guiding people toward self-understanding and human connection. We provide reliable resources, accessible services, and nurturing communities that educate, support, and empower people throughout their mental health journey.