Postpartum Psychiatric Illness

Clues which point toward the etiology of postpartum psychiatric illness and its appropriate treatment are spread over four continents and 150 years of history. James Alexander Hamilton and Patricia Neel Harberger decided that it was time to assemble the bits and pieces of information. Postpartum Psychiatric Illness: A Picture Puzzle is an exceptional work that presents a wealth of research and treatment considerations in this neglected field.

Biomarkers of Postpartum Psychiatric Disorders provides an up-to-date reference on the current research relating to biomarkers in psychiatric disorders, including major depressive disorder, OCD and bipolar disorder in the immediate postpartum time-period. It is the only reference on the market that synthesizes and interprets available data and reviews clinical phenotypes. Topics cover hormonal contributions, immunology, epigenetics and neuroimaging. While the risk of psychiatric illness during pregnancy appears to be equivalent to the risk at any other time in a woman’s life, the risk in the immediate postpartum time period is dramatically increased, hence the importance of the discussions in this title. Identifies epigenetic, hormonal, immunological and neuroimaging biomarkers Provides biomarkers for depression, OCD and psychosis Includes clinical phenotypes for psychiatric disorders Discusses future research and directions in the field

This comprehensive reference and text synthesizes a vast body of clinically useful knowledge about women's mental health and health care. Coverage includes women's psychobiology across the life span--sex differences in neurobiology and psychopharmacology and psychiatric aspects of the reproductive cycle--as well as gender-related issues in assessment and treatment of frequently encountered psychiatric disorders. Current findings are presented on sex differences in epidemiology, risk factors, presenting symptoms, treatment options and outcomes, and more. Also addressed are mental health consultation to other medical specialties, developmental and sociocultural considerations in service delivery, and research methodology and health policy concerns.

"Postpartum Mental Health Disorders: A Casebook describes the recognition and management of psychiatric disorders that present in the postpartum period. Case vignettes illustrate the type of complaints that may present to the psychiatrist, primary care physician, obstetrician, nurse practitioner, doula or other health care professionals. Chapters cover depression, anxiety disorders, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), psychotic disorders, bipolar disorders, posttraumatic stress disorders, personality disorders and drug abuse. Each chapter includes information about differential and provisional diagnoses, epidemiology, treatment and prognosis with advice as to when to refer to a specialist. More general chapters address risk factors for developing postpartum disorders, prevention and the uses and safety of psychotropic medication during breastfeeding. Two frequently used screening questionnaires are included with instructions as to use. Some key references or links are included"--

A panel of top experts in perinatal psychiatry reviews the many recent studies on the use of psychiatric medications in pregnancy and postpartum and assesses their impact on the diagnosis and treatment of pregnant/postpartum women. The authors focus on each of the major psychiatric illnesses, including depression, anxiety disorder, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, substance abuse, eating disorders, and mental illness, as well as on the potential impact of these illnesses on infants and children. Interpreting conflicting and inconclusive clinical findings, they spell out the lesser-known risks of prenatal medication exposure and illuminate a variety of issues that must be taken into account in choosing such treatments as medications, psychotherapy, parental education, and social skills training.

Mood and Anxiety Disorders During Pregnancy and Postpartum earns its important place in the literature by detailing our current understanding of the course, diagnosis, and treatment of psychiatric illness during pregnancy and postpartum, including breast-feeding -- a top priority today because we now know that active maternal psychiatric illness during pregnancy and postpartum can exert long-term negative effects on child development and cause significant morbidity for the mother. In just five concise richly informative chapters, the nine distinguished contributors to Mood and Anxiety Disorders During Pregnancy and Postpartum dispel prevailing beliefs and offer invaluable guidance in treating women during pregnancy and postpartum: Course of Psychiatric Illness During Pregnancy and the Postpartum Period -- Despite the enduring belief that pregnancy is a time of emotional well-being for women, emerging data show that pregnancy is instead a time of increased vulnerability to psychiatric illness. Diagnosis and Treatment of Mood and Anxiety Disorders During Pregnancy -- Though the use of psychotropic medications during pregnancy and postpartum raises concerns, the accumulating data support the use of certain SSRIs/tricyclic antidepressants, especially when balanced against the risk to both mother and child of depression during pregnancy. Management of Bipolar Disorder During Pregnancy and the Postpartum Period: Weighing the Risks and Benefits -- Although the onset of bipolar disorder (BP) tends to occur during women's reproductive years, surprisingly little is known about the impact of the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, postpartum, breast-feeding, and menopause on the course and treatment of bipolar disorder. Postpartum Mood Disorders -- Women experience a dramatic increase in their risk of developing severe psychiatric illness during postpartum for a full year after delivery. Often overlooked, postpartum disorders must be identified and treated as early as possible to reduce the mother's risk for recurrent and treatment-refractory illness and the child's risk for long-term development problems due to the detrimental effect of maternal depression. Use of Antidepressants and Mood Stabilizers in Breast-feeding Women -- This expanded clinical appraisal of the literature on antidepressant and mood stabilizer use in breast-feeding women shows that additional detailed pharmacokinetic investigations are urgently needed to enhance our understanding of nursing infant exposure and the role(s) of pharmacogenomics in determining infant exposure. Meticulously referenced and remarkably succinct, Mood and Anxiety Disorders During Pregnancy and Postpartum provides critical information about the course of illness during pregnancy and postpartum to help guide effective individualized treatment decisions-decisions that are ultimately based on the patient's wishes.

Advocating for Women with Postpartum Psychosis takes the reader into the world of one of the most misunderstood mental illnesses. Affecting 1 to 2 out of 1,000 childbearing women a year in the United States, postpartum psychosis creates hallucinations and delusions, which, if untreated, can lead to infanticide and subsequently imprisonment or death for the mother. While other parts in the world, particularly the United Kingdom have more sympathetic laws, in the United States, women with postpartum psychosis are often stigmatized as "baby killers", and face the ultimate penalty. Through this book, though, authors Feingold and Lewis humanize the mother's experience to promote understanding and compassion. Beginning with an overview of the mental health and legal facets surrounding postpartum psychosis, the authors then provide vital resources and tools for mental health practitioners and legal professionals to enact change in their practices and communities. Complete with case studies and the authors' experiences in changing the law in their own state of Illinois, this book is a necessary resource for furthering dialogue and action around maternal mental illness.