Some sufferers become severely depressed or have both manic and depressive phases. Other psychotic symptoms include hallucinations, that is seeing or hearing things which are not there and delusions such as believing their baby is the Messiah or that people are trying to harm her. We ask all members to let us see their medical records in order to confirm that they have suffered puerperal psychosis. All information is kept strictly confidential. We send them information about research findings and about projects which they could participate in and this updated by a twice yearly newsletter.
Members are under no obligation or pressure to take part in research.
The research will involve volunteers giving a sample of blood and completing a short interview giving details of their medical and family history. We are also looking for women who have suffered puerperal psychosis and have a sister or sisters who also have children , whether or not the sister has also been ill. We are particularly interested in finding women with twin sisters. This is with a view to beginning a project in which women who have suffered puerperal psychosis will undergo a Magnetic Resonance Imaging Scan . Their sisters who have had children but have not suffered puerperal psychosis would also undergo scanning to act as controls.