Postpartum Psychosis

Postpartum psychosis is a rare but serious mental health illness that can affect women soon after giving birth. It’s also known as puerperal or postnatal psychosis.

If you are concerned about the safety of your partner or someone you know, contact emergency care immediately, where rapid support and treatment will be offered.

More information on how to get urgent help can be found here: Get urgent help for mental health – NHS (www.nhs.uk)

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What are the symptoms?

• Hallucinations
• Delusions
• A manic or low mood
• Loss of inhibitions
• Feeling fearful or suspicious
• Confusion
• Behaving out of character

Risk Factors

The causes of postpartum psychosis are unknown, but risk factors include

• Having a family history of mental illness, particularly postpartum psychosis
• A traumatic birth or delivery
• Developing the same illness after a previous pregnancy
• Already being diagnosed with bipolar disorder or schizophrenia 

More detailed information on postpartum psychosis can be found here: Postpartum psychosis | Royal College of Psychiatrists (rcpsych.ac.uk)

Treatment

Most women suffering from postpartum psychosis need to be given specialist psychiatric treatment in hospital, ideally with their baby in a mother and baby unit.

It can take 6-12 months or longer to recover from the condition, but with treatment most women make a full recovery. Further information on mother and baby units can be found here: Mother and baby units (MBUs) | Royal College of Psychiatrists (rcpsych.ac.uk)