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Psychosis: Postpartum Psychosis
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Postpartum Psychosis is a devastating mood disorder that can develop two to four weeks postpartum or immediately after a woman gives birth. Postpartum psychosis causes paranoia, hallucinations (hearing voices urging a new mother to kill herself or her child), severe insomnia, loss of appetite, anxiety and depression. A woman suffering from postpartum psychosis often suffers alone because of the shame associated with this illness.
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Postpartum psychosis is considered to be a mental health emergency and therefore requires immediate attention. Because women who suffer from the psychosis are not always able or willing to speak with someone about their disorder, it is sometimes necessary that their partner or another family member help them get the medical attention they need. The condition is usually treated with medications, typically antipsychotic drugs and sometimes antidepressants and/or antianxiety drugs. If a woman is thought to pose a threat to herself or others, she will likely be hospitalized for a short time. Many women can ... benefit from psychological counseling and support group therapy. With proper care, most women are able to recover from their disorder.
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Postpartum psychosis is a more rare and severe disorder than postpartum depression. It affects about 1 in 500 to 1,000 new mothers. Onset is severe and quick, and should be treated as a medical emergency. Symptoms include:
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Women with a personal history of psychosis, bipolar disorder or schizophrenia have an increased risk of developing postpartum psychosis. Likewise, women who have a family history of psychosis, bipolar disorder or schizophrenia have a greater chance of developing the disorder. Additonally, women who have had had a past incidence of postpartum psychosis are between 20% and 50% more likely of experiencing it again in a future pregnancy.
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Postpartum Psychosis