Bicol University

Polangui Campus
Nursing & Health Sciences Department

Postpartum Psychosis
A rare but serious maternal health illness that occurs in women just after giving birth. A
potentially life-threatening medical emergency, generally requiring rapid intervention,
hospitalization and psychiatric management.
 Prevalence in pregnancy and in the first year of postpartum
 Postpartum psychosis is the most severe and uncommon form of postnatal affective
illness, with estimated rates of 0.5-1 episodes per 1000 deliveries
 The first presenting symptoms are insomnia, mood lability, or occasionally obsessive
concerns regarding to the newborn; elevated or depressed mood, disorganized behavior,
restlessness, irritability, and delusions and hallucinations
 Women with postpartum psychosis also show delirium-like features; women can
sometimes show atypical cognitive symptoms, such as disorientation, derealization,
depersonalization, confusion, perplexity, and misrecognition of people.
Risk factors Onset Symptoms Consequences Management
Of Untreated
Postpartum
Psychosis
 Personal/family Within 4  Manic or -Suicide  Hospitalization
history of PP weeks affective  Mood Stabilizers
 Personal/family -Infanticide  Antipsychotics
postpartum  Mania
history of BPD  Hormones
 Genetics  Mood lability  ECT (Electro
 Primiparity  Delusions Convulsion Therap
 Hormonal changes  Hallucinations  Antidepressants
 Sleep loss  Bizarre behavior (with caution)
 Higher maternal
age (older than 35)  Severe depression
 Trauma  Confusion
 Perplexity
 Thought of death
or suicide

References
Understanding Postpartum Psychosis | Rachael Watters
https://youtu.be/8qgV7Yug-xs
Burgerhout-Karin-Marieke.pdf

Prepared by: SODSOD GRESYL R. BSN 2B GROUP B