title: A qualitative investigation in the role of the baby in recovery from postpartum psychosis.
abstract: Psychosis after childbirth is a rare but severe type of mental health difficulty experienced by perinatal women. Research has explored mothers' experiences of onset and recovery from psychosis after childbirth. This study explored the role of the baby in 12 mothers' experiences of recovery. A thematic analysis of the data identified three core themes that described the role of the baby in the mothers' recovery from psychosis after childbirth. Findings revealed that the baby was central to recovery, experienced by mothers as both helpful and unhelpful. The baby interacted with the mother, increasing self-efficacy, and reducing emotional distress. Findings also showed that the baby could act as a barrier to recovery by increasing the women's emotional distress and hindering access to help and self-care. The findings of the study add to the existing evidence based on recovery from psychosis after childbirth. The research and clinical implications of these findings are discussed with reference to the existing literature.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The baby has an important role in recovery from psychosis after childbirth. The baby can be perceived by mothers to both hinder and help their recovery. Interacting with the baby can be helpful for the mothers' recovery by improving their self-efficacy and reducing emotional distress. Specialist interventions offered by a mother and baby unit can provide practical support that facilitates mother-baby interactions, which helps move women forward in the recovery process.
authors.affiliation: School of Health Sciences, University of Manchester, UK.
authors.forename: Charlene
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Plunkett
authors.affiliation: School of Health Sciences, University of Manchester, UK.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Peters
authors.affiliation: Manchester Mental Health and Social Care Trust, UK.
authors.forename: Angelika
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wieck
authors.affiliation: School of Health Sciences, University of Manchester, UK.|Manchester Mental Health and Social Care Trust, UK.
authors.forename: Anja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wittkowski
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D018730:Infant Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008875:Middle Aged; D009034:Mother-Child Relations / Q000523:psychology*; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D049590:Postpartum Period / Q000523:psychology*; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: baby; childbirth; mothers; postpartum psychosis; recovery