POSTPARTUM PSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS

By: Ismah Haron Ruzanna Rosslan Noraini Tukiran

(Faculty of Medicine UiTM)

23/09/2012

1. Postpartum blues

2. Postpartum depression

3. Postpartum psychosis

Introduction
Postpartum blues: - Onset during the first few weeks after delivery.
- Characterized by mood lability, tearfulness, anxiety or irritability. - Function not impaired.
*If symptoms of depression persist for longer than two weeks, the patient should be evaluated to rule out a more serious disorder.

 Postpartum depression - Onset is over the first two to three postpartum months but may occur at any point after delivery.

- The symptoms include depressed mood, anhedonia, feelings of guilt, feelings of worthlessness or incompetence, fatigue, sleep disturbance, change in appetite, poor concentration and suicidal thoughts.

- Function impaired.

 Postpartum psychosis - Onset of symptoms as early as the first 48 to 72 hours after delivery. - The earliest signs are restlessness, irritability and insomnia in addition to a rapidly shifting depressed or elevated mood, disorientation or confusion and disorganized behaviour. - Delusion are common and often about the infant. - Auditory hallucinations that instruct the mother to harm herself or her infant may also occur. - Function impaired.
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Triggering factors & Who is susceptible?

Hormonal changes

Life stressors: e.g. economy burden, family problems, relationship problem, unprepared to handle new responsibility.
Previous episode of postpartum psychiatric disorders Depression during pregnancy History of depression or bipolar disorder

REFERENCES
1. Neel Burton. Psychiatry 2 nd Edition. 2. Royal College of Psychiatrists, http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk 3. The Massachusetts General Hospital Centre for Womens Mental Health, http://www.womensmentalhealth.org/ 4. Mental Health America, http://www.nmha.org/