[Postpartum psychoses]

We have reviewed actual forms of postpartum psychoses from three clinical cases, hospitalized for six weeks in an open service. The frequency is declining and the clinical picture can be threefold: oniroidconfusional, pure affective and schizophreniform. The short term course and long term prognosis are generally good, with the exception of latent underlying psychosis. Nevertheless, there is a real risk for further pregnancies necessitating birth control. The etiology is multifactorial: heredo-constitutional factors, reactional, psychodynamic and somatic. The most difficult differential diagnosis is that of early schizophrenia or onset of manic-depression and often the ultimate course permits to assess the diagnosis. Treatment is with psychotropic drugs, electroconvulsive treatment and psychotherapy emphasizing the early mother-child relationship.