Can We Identify Women at High Risk for Postpartum Psychosis?

Postpartum psychosis is rare, occurring in about 1 to 2 per 1000 women after delivery.  While there appears to be a strong link between postpartum psychosis and bipolar disorder, it is estimated that about half of women who present with postpartum psychosis have no psychiatric history prior to delivery, making it difficult to identify those women who are at greatest risk for this illness.   A recent study, using data from the Swedish Medical Birth Registry, has examined possible risk factors that may be used to identify women at risk for postpartum psychosis.