title: Support needs of mothers who experience postpartum psychosis and their partners.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the perceived support needs and preferences of women with postpartum psychosis and their partners.
  
  
  METHODS
  A multisite, exploratory, qualitative descriptive design was used.
  
  
  METHODS
  A purposive sample of nine mothers (Canada, n = 7, United States, n = 2) and eight fathers (Canada, n = 7, United States, n = 1) was obtained.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were collected through one-on-one, in-depth, semistructured interviews. Inductive thematic analysis was used to explore the qualitative transcripts.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Couples who experienced postpartum psychosis looked to health professionals to provide reassurance and information on the illness, its management, and prognosis. The quality of support and interactions with staff varied, and participants reported difficulty identifying and obtaining professional support upon discharge. All participants felt that support groups for postpartum illnesses would help to normalize the experience and dissipate feelings of isolation. Participants reported that informal support networks provided practical help but were limited or hindered recovery and management due to lack of knowledge of the illness. Despite feeling overwhelmed and isolated, fathers were reluctant to identify their own support needs and struggled to ask for help from professionals and their informal support network.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that clinical interventions are needed to address the support needs and aid in the recovery of families affected by postpartum psychosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing & Health Sciences, University of New Brunswick, Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada.. Electronic address: sdoucet@unb.ca.
authors.forename: Shelley
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Doucet
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Nursing and Canada Research Chair in Healthy Child Development, Department of Nursing, University of New Brunswick, Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada.
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Letourneau
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY.
authors.forename: Emma Robertson
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Blackmore
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002170:Canada; D015331:Cohort Studies; D019052:Depression, Postpartum / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D020380:Needs Assessment; D010290:Parents / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000458:organization & administration; D011181:Postnatal Care / Q000379:methods; D049590:Postpartum Period / Q000523:psychology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D011644:Puerperal Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012657:Self-Help Groups / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012944:Social Support; D018454:Spouses / Q000193:education* / Q000523:psychology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult