a *psychosis that is triggered by childbirth and usually arises in the first two weeks after giving birth. It affects 1 in 200 women; those suffering from bipolar affective disorder or schizophrenia or those who have a history of puerperal psychosis are at particularly high risk. The symptoms develop very rapidly and the patient needs to be hospitalized, ideally in a mother and baby psychiatric unit to avoid separation; most patients respond well to *antipsychotic medication.
One of a group of mental disorders in which the affected person loses contact with reality. Thought processes are so disturbed that the person does not always realise that he or she is ill. Symptoms include DELUSIONS, HALLUCINATIONS, loss of emotion, MANIA, DEPRESSION, poverty of thought and seriously abnormal behaviour. Psychoses include SCHIZOPHRENIA, MANIC DEPRESSION and organically based mental disorders. (See also MENTAL ILLNESS.)... psychosis
Also called postnatal DEPRESSION, this is the state of depression that may affect women soon after they have given birth. The condition often occurs suddenly a day or so after the birth. Many women suffer from it and usually they can be managed with sympathetic support. If, however, the depression – sometimes called ‘maternal blues’ – persists for ten days or more, mild ANTIDEPRESSANT DRUGS are usually e?ective. If not, psychiatric advice is recommended. (See PREGNANCY AND LABOUR.)... puerperal depression
a rare complication of pregnancy, occurring from the sixth month of pregnancy until six months postnatally (usually within six weeks of delivery). It can follow pre-eclampsia. It is characterized by palpitations, dyspnoea, oedema (peripheral and central), and impaired exercise tolerance. The diagnosis is confirmed on echocardiography. It has a high mortality and morbidity. Treatment of heart failure, anticoagulation, and in some cases immunosuppressant therapy is required; in some cases heart transplantation may be considered.... puerperal cardiomyopathy
Health Encyclopedia