Puerperal Psychosis

Puerperal Psychosis

This severe form of mental illness affects approximately one or two mothers in every 1000.

The onset is rapid and usually occurs with in the first few days after delivery. The symptoms are those of depressive psychosis, manic illness or in some cases schizophrenia. This illness most often affects primipara.

Sign and symptoms

The affected woman shows bizarre behavior, loses touch with reality and may suffer from hallucinations. The onset of these symptoms may be heralded by a time of acute restlessness and inability to sleep. Frequently the mother may deny that her baby belongs to her and in rare cases she may harm the baby.

Treatment

The illness must be treated promptly by admission to a psychiatry unit under the care of a consultant. In most cases the baby will be able to accompany his mother into hospital and this should be encouraged if at all possible prompt psychiatric case is vital and skilled psychiatric nursing care is required including medical treatments. With prompt treatment the prognosis is good but, unfortunately, it is likely that further episodes of the illness will occur through out the woman’s life around there is a high risk of recurrence in subsequent pregnancies.