Postpartum psychosis

**Postpartum psychosis** (**PPP**), dem sanso know as **puerperal psychosis** anaa **peripartum psychosis**, dey involve de abrupt onset of psychotic symptoms shortly dey follow childbirth, typically within two weeks of delivery buh less dan 4 weeks postpartum. PPP be a condition currently represented under "Brief Psychotic Disorder" insyd de Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Volume V (DSM-V). Symptoms fi include delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech (e.g., incoherent speech), den/anaa abnormal motor behavior (e.g., catatonia). Oda symptoms wey frequently associate plus PPP dey include confusion, disorganized thought, severe difficulty sleeping, variations of mood disorders (wey dey include depression, agitation, mania, anaa a combination of de above), as well as cognitive features such as consciousness wey dey cam den dey go (waxing and waning) or disorientation.

De cause of PPP currently be unknown, though growing evidence for de broad category of postpartum psychiatric disorders (e.g., postpartum depression) dey suggest hormonal den immune changes as potential factors wey dey contribute to dema onset, as well as genetics and circadian rhythm disruption. Der be no agreement insyd de evidence about risk factors, though na a number of studies suggest say sleep loss, first pregnancies (primiparity), den previous episodes of PPP fi play a role. Na more recent reviews add to growing evidence say prior psychiatric diagnoses, especially bipolar disorder, insyd de individual anaa ein family fi raise de risk of a new-onset psychosis wey be triggered by childbirth. Der currently be no screening anaa assessment tools available to diagnose PPP; a diagnosis for be made by de attending physician based on de patient ein presenting symptoms, wey be guided by diagnostic criteria insyd de DSM-V (see **Diagnosis**).

While dem dey see PPP insyd 1 to 2 of every 1000 childbirths per, de rapid development of psychotic symptoms, particularly those wey dey include delusions of misidentification anaa paranoia, dey raise concerns give de safety of de patient den de infant; thus, PPP be considered a psychiatric emergency, usually dey require urgent hospitalization. Treatment fi include medications such as benzodiazepines, lithium, den antipsychotics, as well as procedures such as electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). Insyd sam cases wer na pregnant women know history of bipolar disorder anaa previous episodes of PPP, prophylactic use of medication (especially lithium) either thru out anaa immediately after delivery na dem demonstrate am to reduce de incidence of psychotic anaa bipolar episodes insyd de postpartum period.

PPP no be an independently recognized diagnosis insyd de DSM-V; instead, de specifier "plus peripartum onset" be used give both "Brief psychotic disorder" den "Unspecified bipolar and related disorders." Recent literature dey suggest say, more frequently, dis syndrome dey occur insyd de context of known anaa new-onset bipolar illness (spy **Postpartum Bipolar Disorder**). Given de variety of symptoms wey be associated plus PPP, a thorough consideration of oda psychiatric den non-psychiatric (ana organic) causes for be ruled out thru a combination of diagnostic labwork den imaging, as well as clinical presentation - a non-exhaustive sample of dese oda causes be examined below (spy **Organic postpartum psychoses** den **Other non-organic postpartum psychoses**).
## Books dem wrep about postpartum psychosis den postpartum bipolar disorder

Na dem publish de following books about dese psychoses:
*Ripping, Dr (1877) *Die Geistesstörungen der Schwangeren, Wöchnerinnen und Säugenden*. Stuttgart, Enke.
*Knauer O (1897) *Über Puerperale Psychose für practische Ärzte*. Berlin, Karger.
*Twomey T (2009) *Understanding Postpartum Psychosis: A Temporary Madness*. Westport, Praeger.
*Harwood D (2017) *Birth of a New Brain - Healing from Postpartum Bipolar Disorder.* Brentwood, Post Hill Press.
## References