Postpartum Psychoses and Drugs ?
50 percent to 75 percent of all mothers experience a mild form of depression called
the "baby blues," which typically comes on within the first few days following childbirth,
lasts for several weeks at most, and is marked by crying spells and feelings of sadness,
anxiety, and irritability.
Much less common is "postpartum psychosis," which is suffered by fewer than 1 percent of
all mothers. Symptoms for this disorder are similar to other forms of psychosis, including
hallucinations, mania, delusions, altered mood, extreme confusion or agitation, paranoia,
and disorganized thinking. Postpartum psychosis has a very rapid onset, usually within the
first one to three days following childbirth.
Experts agree that postpartum psychosis is likely triggered by the rapid fall in hormones,
such as estrogen and progesterone, which follows the birth of a child. It is believed this
fall in hormones activates a cascade of chemical events within the brain that ultimately
lead to psychotic thoughts and behaviors.
Psychotic thoughts can also occur with severe depression after childbirth, though the
onset of delusional symptoms is much slower than classical postpartum psychosis, which
comes on very quickly with dramatic and obvious changes in behavior.
Psychosis with depression is more insidious in nature, with symptoms that gradually worsen
over a period of weeks. A mother may begin with the more common form of postpartum
depression, but then progressively develop psychotic symptoms as time goes on.
doctors say it is difficult to predict if a new mother will suffer postpartum
psychosis, though women with bipolar disorder or mothers with a history of severe
postpartum depression are more at risk for developing psychotic tendencies after
pregnancy.
also known as haloperidol, is most commonly prescribed for treating schizophrenia
and other psychological disorders with strong psychotic components. It is therefore used
primarily to treat the serious symptoms related to postpartum psychosis and not for the
more common postpartum blues or depression.