Does puerperal illness distinguish a subgroup of bipolar patients?
Puerperal psychosis was found to be the 1st illness for 13 (36%) of a series of 36 mothers with bipolar affective disorder. The risk of recurrence with childbirth in those with established bipolar disorder was found to be 25-40%. Those women who survived childbirth without illness but then became ill at a later time reported a worse illness course. Recent fatherhood was not a precipitant of 1st affective illness for any of the 28 bipolar men.
Hunt
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Department of Psychological Medicine, Medical College of St Bartholomew's Hospital, London, UK.
Silverstone
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T
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D011644:Puerperal Disorders / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D012008:Recurrence; D012307:Risk Factors