We define puerperal psychosis as any manic or other psychotic illness suffered by a woman which begins in the first 6 weeks after she has given birth to a child. If a woman suffers manic symptoms , she will seem very excited and elated. She will often talk very fast, not completing sentences and jumping from 1 topic to another. She may be overactive, not sleeping and rushing from 1 task to another. She may be bossy and demanding and become angry and aggressive if crossed.
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.