Including postpartum psychosis in the DSM may help improve awareness, but it is only the first step in ensuring timely recognition and effective care.
Margaret Spinelli, MD will be presenting to the DSM-V committee of the American Psychiatric Association arguing for the inclusion of postpartum psychosis as a unique diagnosis.
The American Psychiatric Association is now considering the possibility of including premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) in the DSM-V as a new category, rather than listing a set of criteria for PMDD in the appendix (as in DSM-IV). The diagnostic criteria remain relatively unchanged. Many feel that the Inclusion of PMDD as a distinct diagnostic category will lead to greater legitimacy for the disorder and will encourage the growth of evidence-based research in this area.
