Pregnancy and childbirth are times of emotional turmoil for many women. About 13 percent of pregnant women and new mothers experience symptoms of depression that include sadness, hopelessness and a feeling of being overwhelmed. A smaller number of women experience a more extreme psychiatric condition known as postpartum psychosis. This condition usually begins within two weeks of giving birth; in addition to depression, symptoms include confusion, extreme mood swings and visual hallucinations. Women who are affected by postpartum psychosis are at risk of hurting themselves or their babies.
Read About Pregorexia or Anorexia During Pregnancy from our Sister Facility for Eating Disorders
A new women’s health study has found a link between postpartum psychosis and bipolar disorder. The study, which was conducted at a university in Denmark, looked at the medical records of more than 120,000 women with a history of psychiatric problems. Researchers found that women who suffered from psychosis within a month of giving birth were at greater risk of being diagnosed with bipolar disorder later in life. This was especially true for women who were hospitalized for their postpartum symptoms.
Pregnancy and Post Partum Can Be Difficult
The Danish study found that women who suffered a psychotic episode within two weeks of their baby’s birth were 4 times more likely to later be diagnosed as bipolar when compared to women who experienced no psychiatric problems within a year of giving birth. Among women who required treatment for a psychiatric disorder within the first month after giving birth, approximately 14% were diagnosed with bipolar disorder within 15 years.
The findings indicate that severe postpartum psychiatric problems may be a marker for underlying bipolarity. In the Archives, of General Psychiatry, study author Dr. Trine Munk-Olsen suggests that doctors pay close attention to hypomania in patients who are experiencing postpartum problems. According to Munk-Olsen and his team of researchers, when bipolar symptoms are mistaken for postpartum depression, a prescription for antidepressants could have unexpected consequences and worsen the symptoms of bipolar disorder.
There is no cure for bipolar disorder — the condition requires lifelong treatment. Treatments for bipolarity include medication, individual and group counseling, psychotherapy and support groups. Hospitalization is required if patients experience psychotic symptoms and are a danger to themselves and others. Medication is often used immediately after diagnosis to balance a patient’s mood swings and then other forms of treatment may be used for long-term maintenance. Bipolar patients who have problems with alcohol or drugs should undergo substance abuse treatment to aid in management of their bipolarity.
