title: Life stress and post-partum psychosis: a preliminary report.
abstract: This is a preliminary report from a prospective study of the influence of psychosocial stressors on post-natal relapse in women at high risk of psychiatric disorder after childbirth. Forty-three index subjects with a previous history of psychosis or severe depression were compared with 45 pregnant control subjects without any previous psychiatric disorder. After delivery 51% of index subjects relapsed (RDC diagnoses): 28% were categorised as psychotic and 23% non-psychotic. All psychotic relapses were in women with a previous history of bipolar or schizoaffective disorder (46% of this subgroup). Only the non-psychotic post-partum relapses (mostly depressions) were associated with an increased likelihood of a severe life event in the 12 months preceding illness onset.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychiatry, De Crespigny Park, Denmark Hill, London.
authors.forename: M N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Marks
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wieck
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Checkley
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kumar
mesh_terms: D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005783:Gender Identity; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008016:Life Change Events; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D011644:Puerperal Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D012008:Recurrence; D012307:Risk Factors