Postpartum Psychosis

Postpartum psychosis (PPP) is a rare, severe mental health condition developing after childbirth that can drive a mother to either harm herself or her child in severe cases.

Unlike postpartum depression or the baby blues, PPP can cause an individual to lose touch with reality and require immediate medical care. Symptoms usually appear within two weeks after childbirth or may appear later. These include:

1. Hallucinations: Seeing, hearing, feeling or smelling things that are not real. Auditory and visual hallucinations are the most common, such as hearing voices or seeing things that others cannot.

2. Delusions: Strongly held false beliefs that persist despite convincing evidence. These may include believing someone intends to hurt the mother or her baby, that the newborn is possessed by the evil spirits, or external forces control her thoughts or emotions.

3. Severe mood changes: Fluctuations between manic symptoms, such as increased activity and mood to depressive symptoms.

4. Extreme insomnia: Severe difficulty sleeping, even when the opportunity to rest is available.

5. Thoughts about self-harm: Suicidal ideation or urge to harm oneself.

6. Disorganised thinking or behaviour: Confusion, difficulty communicating clearly, or unusual behaviour.

A history of psychiatric disorders particularly bipolar disorder may increase the risk of developing PPP. Other contributing factors may include hormonal changes, sleep deprivation and a family history of psychiatric illness, especially Postpartum psychosis.

Treatments of PPP include psychiatric medications, such as antipsychotics and mood stabilisers, as well as electroconvulsive therapy, particularly in severe cases.

Zona Naz Bibi,
Karachi, Pakistan