The article that received the most attention this week is one examining the risks associated with the use of stimulants to treat ADHD during pregnancy (Cohen JM et al, 2017). There were no real surprises [...]
Because postpartum psychosis is relatively uncommon, we do not have as much information on this illness as we have on postpartum depression. In addition, most of the literature we have on postpartum psychosis is not [...]
Various studies have demonstrated that women with histories of either bipolar disorder or postpartum psychosis are at high risk for postpartum relapse. While we recognize the risk as being “high”, estimations of the risk for [...]
Women with bipolar disorder are at significant risk for recurrent illness during the postpartum period. After miscarriage, an event which is associated with both hormonal changes and psychological complexity, is the risk for recurrent illness [...]
Medical conditions with a postpartum flare pattern – including postpartum thyroiditis, multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis – have an etiology related to immune system dysregulation. Earlier this year, we reviewed an article suggesting that some cases [...]
Postpartum psychosis is the most severe form of postpartum psychiatric illness, affecting about 1 out of every 1000 births. Postpartum psychosis occurs most frequently in first-time mothers, typically within the first two weeks after delivery. [...]
Multiple studies have demonstrated that the postpartum period is a time of increased vulnerability in women with bipolar disorder. However, because many of the commonly used mood stabilizers carry some teratogenic risk, many women elect [...]
This week in the New York Times, there is a two-part story on maternal mental illness. Highlighting the experience of two women who became ill during the postpartum period, the articles focus on the range of disorders which can emerge during the postpartum period -- not only depression, but bipolar disorder, anxiety, OCD, and psychosis.
Previous studies have identified primiparity as a significant risk factor for postpartum psychosis and especially bipolar affective disorders. This is the first study to quantify the risk of psychiatric illness after the first as compared to subsequent pregnancies.
Postpartum psychosis is a rare but serious psychiatric illness, occurring in about 1 to 2 per 1000 women after delivery. Because postpartum psychosis carries significant risks for both the mother and her child, most women with this illness are psychiatrically hospitalized. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is an effective treatment for postpartum psychosis and may reduce the risks associated with medication exposure in the nursing infant; however, very few research studies have focused on the use of ECT in this setting and it is less commonly used in the United States than in other countries. A recent study explores the safety and advantages of ECT for the treatment of women hospitalized for postpartum psychosis.
