Puerperal psychosis--analysis of 35 cases

Thirty-five patients admitted with psychosis either immediately or within six months of delivery were analysed for various risk factors. Primiparity, previous psychiatric history, antenatal complications, caesarean section, perinatal death and female baby were all associated with an increased risk of psychiatric admission, suggesting that psychological stresses do contribute to high psychiatric morbidity in puerperium. Women with history of affective disorder had a much higher risk of psychiatric admissions in the puerperium than those with history of schizophrenia or depressive neurosis.