title: [Confused woman shortly after childbirth].
abstract: Shortly after the birth of her first child a young woman became  confused and agitated and was finally involuntarily admitted to  an acute psychiatric ward. In spite of appropriate treatment with  narcoleptics, she deteriorated from day to day and the staff members were  uncertain what to do. New information from her close family concerning  previous depressive and hippomanic episodes pointed to probable  bipolar disorder. The treatment of choice was electroconvulsive  therapy (ECT). In Norway this treatment requires informed consent,  which she was not able to give. After consideration and discussions  she was finally given ECT as emergency treatment. This had an immediate  effect, and after a few treatments she recovered. She was given  lithium to prevent relapse. At her 18 month follow-up visit she  was stable and functioning well and had a good relationship with  her child. Aspects of diagnostics and treatment as well as legal  and ethical aspects are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Klinikk for psykisk helse, Oslo universitetssykehus, Aker, Norway. harald.brauer@aus.no
authors.forename: Harald
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Brauer
authors.forename: Egil W
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Martinsen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D019052:Depression, Postpartum / Q000175:diagnosis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004565:Electroconvulsive Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D011644:Puerperal Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents