Admission to psychiatric hospital in the early and late postpartum periods: Scottish national linkage study

Familial risk of postpartum psychosis

Objective

Postpartum psychosis, a mood disorder triggered by childbirth, is one of the most severe psychiatric conditions, with high risks of suicide and infanticide if untreated. While it is evident that genetic factors play a crucial role in disorder risk, the exact extent of their importance is yet to be determined.

Methods

This cohort study consisted of 1,648,759 women from the Swedish nationwide registers, of whom 2,514 (0.15%) experienced postpartum psychosis within three months of their first-ever childbirth. We estimated the relative recurrence risk of postpartum psychosis for female full siblings and cousins as a measure of familial, genetic, and environmental risk.

Results

Relative recurrence risk of postpartum psychosis in full siblings was 10.69 (95% CI=6.60-16.26) when adjusted for year of and age at childbirth. Although cousins showed an elevated relative recurrence risk, these results did not reach statistical significance (1.78, 95% CI=0.70-3.62). Despite the higher familial risk of postpartum psychosis among full siblings, the absolute risk for women with an affected sibling is relatively low, estimated at 1.55% within the entire population.

Conclusions

The observed increased risk of postpartum psychosis in full siblings suggests both genetic and shared environmental influences. However, the lack of significant results in cousins hampers a definitive distinction between these factors. Furthermore, despite increased relative recurrence risk in siblings, their overall likelihood of developing postpartum psychosis remains low. Our study underscores the need for further research to better understand the intricate interplay of genetics and environment in the development of postpartum psychosis.

Perinatal sleep disruption and postpartum psychosis in bipolar disorder: Findings from the UK BDRN Pregnancy Study

BACKGROUND

Women with bipolar disorder (BD) are at high risk of postpartum psychosis (PP). The factors that increase risk of PP among women with BD are not fully understood. Here, we examine whether sleep disruption in the perinatal period (poor sleep quality in late pregnancy and sleep deprivation related to childbirth) is associated with PP in a longitudinal study of pregnant women with BD.

METHODS

Participants were 76 pregnant women with lifetime DSM-5 bipolar I disorder or schizoaffective-BD, followed from week 12 of pregnancy to 12 weeks postpartum. Demographics and lifetime psychopathology were assessed at baseline via semi-structured interview (Schedules for Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry). Psychopathology and sleep disruption within the current perinatal period were assessed in the third trimester and at 12 weeks postpartum. Data were supplemented by clinician questionnaires and case-note review.

RESULTS

After controlling for prophylactic use of mood stabilising medication, the loss of at least one complete night of sleep across labour/delivery was associated with five times the odds of experiencing PP compared to no or less than one night of sleep loss across labour/delivery (OR 5.19, 95 % CI 1.45-18.54; p = 0.011). Sleep quality in late pregnancy was not associated with PP, and perinatal sleep disruption was not associated with postpartum depression.

LIMITATIONS

Lack of objective measures of sleep factors.

CONCLUSIONS

In the context of other aetiological factors, severe sleep loss associated with childbirth/the immediate postpartum may act as a final trigger of PP. These findings could have important clinical implications for risk prediction and prevention of PP.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding in mental health policy: a narrative review

OBJECTIVES

Mental health difficulties are often exacerbated during the perinatal period. Policy and guidelines are increasingly being used to enhance the quality of healthcare. We conducted a literature review of published research relating to pregnancy and breastfeeding in mental health policy.

METHODS

Relevant terms were searched in Medline, CINAHL, APA PsycINFO and EMBASE for articles published in English from 1970 until 2020. Only papers that referenced policy, guidance, legislation or standards were included. While a systematic approach was used, the nature of the results necessitated a narrative review.

RESULTS

Initially, 262 papers were identified, 44 met the inclusion criteria. Reproductive health is given sparse consideration in research relating to mental health policy. Despite this, some key areas emerged. These included: the need for proactive preconception psychoeducation, proactive screening of mothers of infants and young children for perinatal mental health issues, enhanced prescribing practice for women of child-bearing age, enhanced monitoring during pregnancy, development of safe modification of coercive practices should they need to be employed in emergency circumstances and targeted measures to reduce substance misuse. Themes that arose relating to breastfeeding and bonding are also described.

CONCLUSIONS

Female reproductive health is often ignored in research relating to mental health policy, guidelines and standards. These tools need to be harnessed to promote good healthcare. Reproductive health should be included in the care plan of all mental health patients. These topics need to be integrated into existing relevant policies and not isolated to a separate policy.

Restoring Wnt signaling in a hormone-simulated postpartum depression model remediated imbalanced neurotransmission and depressive-like behaviors

BACKGROUND

Postpartum depression (PPD) is a prevalent mental disorder that negatively impacts mothers and infants. The mechanisms of vulnerability to affective illness in the postpartum period remain largely unknown. Drastic fluctuations in reproductive hormones during the perinatal period generally account for triggering PPD. However, the molecular mechanism underlying the PPD-like behaviors induced by the fluctuations in hormones has rarely been reported.

METHODS

We utilized hormones-simulated pseudopregnancy (HSP) and hormones-simulated postpartum period (HSPP) rat models to determine how drastic fluctuations in hormone levels affect adult neurotransmission and contribute to depressive-like behaviors. The electrophysiological response of CA1 pyramidal neurons was evaluated by whole-cell patch clamping to identify the hormone-induced modulations of neurotransmission. The statistical significance of differences was assessed with One-way ANOVA and t-test (p < 0.05 was considered significant).

RESULTS

Reproductive hormones withdrawal induced depressive-like behaviors and disturbed the balance of excitatory and inhibitory transmission in the pyramidal neurons in the hippocampus. Molecular analyses revealed that the blunted Wnt signaling might be responsible for the deficits of synaptic transmission and behaviors. Activation of Wnt signaling increased excitatory and inhibitory synaptic transmission in the hippocampus. Reactivation of Wnt signaling alleviated the anhedonic behaviors and abnormal synaptic transmission.

CONCLUSIONS

Restoring Wnt signaling in the hormones-simulated postpartum period rat models remediated depression-related anhedonia symptoms and rebalanced the excitation/inhibition ratio by collectively enhancing the plasticity of GABAergic and glutamatergic synapses. The investigations carried out in this research might provide an alternative and prospective treatment strategy for PPD.

Late postpartum depression and associated factors: community-based cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Late postpartum depression is the presence of depressive symptoms beyond the early postpartum period and is a significant mental health problem that has a devastating impact on mothers, infants, partners, family members, the healthcare system, and the world's economy. However, there is limited information regarding this problem in Ethiopia.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the prevalence of late postpartum depression and associated factors.

METHOD

the community-based cross-sectional study was employed among 479 postpartum mothers in Arba Minch town from May 21 to June 21, 2022. The pre-tested face-to-face interviewer administered a structured questionnaire used to collect the data. A bivariate and multivariable analysis was done using a binary logistic regression model to identify factors associated with late postpartum depression. Both crude and adjusted odds ratios with 95% CI were calculated, and a p-value of < 0.05 was used to declare statistically significant factors.

RESULT

The prevalence of late postpartum depression was 22.98% (95% CI: 19.16, 26.80). Husband Khat use (AOR = 2.64; 95% CI: 1.18, 5.91), partner dissatisfaction with the gender of the baby (AOR = 2.53; 95% CI: 1.22, 5.24), short inter-delivery interval (AOR = 6.80; 95% CI: 3.34, 13.84), difficulty to meet husband sexual need (AOR = 3.21; 95% CI: 1.62, 6.37), postpartum intimate partner violence (AOR = 4.08; 95% CI: 1.95, 8.54), and low social support (AOR = 2.50; 95% CI: 1.25, 4.50) were significantly associated factors at p-value < 0.05.

CONCLUSION

Overall, 22.98% of mothers suffered from late postpartum depression. Therefore, based on the identified factors, the Ministry of Health, Zonal Health Departments, and other responsible agencies should establish effective strategies to overcome this problem.

Dysphoric milk ejection reflex (D-MER) and its implications for mental health nursing

Dysphoric milk ejection reflect (D-MER) is a dysphoria which women may experience within seconds of commencing breastfeeding. It is only recently gaining recognition in the academic literature and may have important implications for breastfeeding continuation, differential diagnosis and perinatal mental health. This perspective piece introduces the topic, sets out the physiological processes underpinning the experience and outlines why increased awareness of D-MER is important for the profession of mental health nursing.

Trends of perinatal mental health referrals and psychiatric admissions in Queensland

BACKGROUND

Perinatal depression is often underdiagnosed; consequently, many women suffer perinatal depression without follow-up care. Screening for depressive symptoms during the perinatal period has been recommended in Australia to increase detection and follow-up of women suffering from depressive symptoms. Screening rates have gradually increased over the last decades in Australia.

OBJECTIVE

To explore trends in referrals of women to community mental health services during the perinatal period, and prenatal and postnatal admissions to psychiatric units, among those who gave birth in Queensland between 2009 and 2015.

METHOD

Retrospective analyses of data from three linked state-wide administrative data collections. Trend analyses using adjusted Poisson regression models examined 426,242 births. Outcome variables included referrals to specialised mental health services; women admitted with a mood disorder during the second half of their pregnancy and during the first 3 months of the postnatal period; and women admitted with non-affective psychosis disorders during the second half of their pregnancy and during the first 3 months of the postnatal period.

RESULTS

We found an increase in mental health referrals during the perinatal period over time (adjusted incidence rate ratio, 1.07; 95% confidence interval, [1.06, 1.08]) and a decrease in admissions with mood disorders during the first 3 months of the postnatal period (adjusted incidence rate ratio, 0.95; 95% confidence interval, [0.94, 0.98]). We did not find any changes in rates of admission for other outcomes.

CONCLUSION

Since the introduction of universal screening in Queensland, referrals for mental health care during the perinatal period have increased, while admissions for mood disorders in the first 3 months after delivery decreased.

Postpartum Psychosis: The Role of Women's Health Care Providers and the Health Care System

Importance

The postpartum period is a time of high risk for serious psychiatric symptoms and hospitalization. Postpartum psychosis (PPP) is the most severe disorder that emerges during this time, with significant and wide-ranging consequences that can include suicide and infanticide.

Evidence Acquisition

A PubMed, MEDLINE, and PsycINFO search was completed for English-language publications about PPP, including subtopics (eg, infanticide, maternal suicide). Citations in these articles were also reviewed for relevant references.

Results

Although it is clear that the triggering event for PPP is childbirth, the processes by which this occurs are not fully understood, which is a critical need for being able to predict, prevent, and manage PPP. There are risk factors that contribute to PPP, and specific groups of women may be at increased risk (eg, women with bipolar disorder). Many questions and challenges remain related to the phenomenology, nosology, prevention, and treatment of PPP. However, there are changes that women's health care providers and systems can take to improve the care of women at risk of and experiencing PPP.

Results

Of the 1382 articles reviewed, 8 met eligibility criteria, representing 6 distinct cohorts and 726 subjects. Synthetic slings available for review were either tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) or minisling. The vast majority of studies demonstrated similar short- and long-term success rates of AFS and SS procedures utilizing a range of outcome measures. Both AFS and TVT sling had low recurrence rates in short- and long-term follow-up. However, AFS had significantly longer operative time, and longer hospital stay. Bladder perforation, on the other hand, occurred more commonly in TVT sling. Health-related quality-of-life scores, including sexual function, were similar between groups.

Conclusions and Relevance

Postpartum psychosis is a rare but serious condition. However, recovery is possible. Women's health care providers and systems can improve the care by better understanding the needs of women and families, offering patient-centered discussions and options for care, particularly those that promote recovery, minimize risk, and limit the interruption of the maternal-infant bond. Improving the prevention and treatment of PPP can have a broad impact for women, children, and families.

Fleur G, Mukona L, Hernandez E, Lamberty N. Peripartum Complications as Risk Factors for Postpartum Psychosis: A Systemic Review

The aim of this research paper is to conduct a systematic review of periparturient complications as risk factors of postpartum psychosis. The investigation of risk factors for maternal psychosis following childbirth is complicated by the risk of confounding by a previous psychiatric history; therefore, this systematic review focuses on labor complications as risk factors among women without any previous psychiatric hospitalizations or diagnoses.

Articles were collected and analyzed from the PubMed, MEDLINE, and Cochrane Review Library databases, as well as Clinicaltrials.gov, in accordance with the 2020 Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Article abstracts and article titles of the identified publications were screened independently by all seven authors, and studies were selected if they met the following inclusion criteria: patients were diagnosed with postpartum psychosis per the guidelines in the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V), DSM-IV or World Health Organization’s ICD-10 Classification of Mental and Behavioral Disorders; patients presented with no prior psychiatric diagnoses, hospitalizations or history; and the study evaluated the association of periparturient complications to first-onset postpartum psychosis, excluding narrative reviews, systematic reviews, or meta-analyses.

Fifteen case-control, cohort, and case report studies, with thousands of patients, were selected to investigate the correlation between perinatal complications and first-onset post-partum psychosis. Obstetric complications during childbirth significantly predisposed for postpartum psychosis in certain individual studies but did not reveal an association in others.

More studies must be implemented to elaborate on this limited scope.

Patterns of psychiatric admission in Australian pregnant and childbearing women

PURPOSE

The early postnatal period is a time of increased risk for psychiatric admission. However, there is scope to further examine if this increase in risk extends to the entire perinatal period (pregnancy and first postnatal year), and how it compares to admission outside of the perinatal period.

METHODS

Data were linked across birth and hospital admission registers from July 2000 to December 2009. The study cohort, consisting of all pregnant and childbearing women with a psychiatric history, was divided into two groups: case women (at least one perinatal principal psychiatric admission in the study period) (38%) and comparison women (no perinatal principal psychiatric admissions) (62%). Outcomes were admission rate and length of stay adjusted for diagnosis, socio-demographic factors and timing of admission.

RESULTS

Antenatal and postnatal admissions rates were both higher than non-perinatal admission rates for case women for all diagnoses. There was little evidence that women with perinatal admissions were at an increased risk of admissions at other times. Socially disadvantaged women had significantly fewer and shorter admissions than their respective counterparts.

CONCLUSIONS

The entire perinatal period is a time of increased risk for admission across the range of psychiatric disorders, compared to other times in a woman's childbearing years. Reduced admission rate and length of stay for socially disadvantaged women suggest lack of equity of access highlighting the importance of national perinatal mental health policy initiatives inclusive of disadvantaged groups.

Trends in and complications associated with mental health condition diagnoses during delivery hospitalizations

BACKGROUND

Mental health conditions during delivery hospitalizations are not well characterized.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to characterize the prevalence of maternal mental health condition diagnoses and associated risk during delivery hospitalizations in the United States.

STUDY DESIGN

The 2000 to 2018 National Inpatient Sample was used for this repeated cross-sectional analysis. Delivery hospitalizations of women aged 15 to 54 years with and without mental health condition diagnoses, including depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, bipolar spectrum disorder, and schizophrenia spectrum disorder, were identified. Temporal trends in mental health condition diagnoses during delivery hospitalizations were determined using the National Cancer Institute's Joinpoint Regression Program to estimate the average annual percent change with 95% confidence intervals. The trends in chronic conditions associated with mental health condition diagnoses, including asthma, pregestational diabetes mellitus, chronic hypertension, obesity, and substance use, were analyzed. The association between mental health conditions and the following adverse outcomes was determined: (1) severe maternal morbidity, (2) preeclampsia or gestational hypertension, (3) preterm delivery, (4) postpartum hemorrhage, (5) cesarean delivery, and (6) maternal mortality. Regression models for each outcome were performed with unadjusted and adjusted risk ratios as measures of effects.

RESULTS

Of 73,109,791 delivery hospitalizations, 2,316,963 (3.2%) had ≥1 associated mental health condition diagnosis. The proportion of delivery hospitalizations with a mental health condition increased from 0.6% in 2000 to 7.3% in 2018 (average annual percent change, 11.4%; 95% confidence interval, 10.3%-12.6%). Among deliveries in women with a mental health condition diagnosis, chronic health conditions, including asthma, pregestational diabetes mellitus, chronic hypertension, obesity, and substance use, increased from 14.9% in 2000 to 38.5% in 2018. Deliveries to women with a mental health condition diagnosis were associated with severe maternal morbidity (risk ratio, 1.88; 95% confidence interval, 1.86-1.90), preeclampsia and gestational hypertension (risk ratio, 1.59; 95% confidence interval, 1.58-1.60), preterm delivery (risk ratio, 1.35; 95% confidence interval, 1.35-1.36), postpartum hemorrhage (risk ratio, 1.37; 95% confidence interval, 1.36-1.38), cesarean delivery (risk ratio, 1.20; 95% confidence interval, 1.20-1.20), and maternal death (risk ratio, 1.31; 95% confidence interval, 1.12-1.56). The increased risk was retained in adjusted models.

CONCLUSION

The proportion of delivery hospitalizations with mental health condition diagnoses increased significantly throughout the study period. Mental health condition diagnoses were associated with other underlying chronic health conditions and a modestly increased risk of a range of adverse outcomes. The findings suggested that mental health conditions are an important risk factor in adverse maternal outcomes.

Burden of severe maternal peripartum mental disorders in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review

Peripartum severe mental disorders (PSMDs) encompass schizophrenia, affective psychosis, and psychotic and non-psychotic forms of bipolar disorders. PSMDs are well documented in high-income countries. However, much less is known about the prevalence of PSMDs in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The aim was to review the available literature systematically and estimate the prevalence of PSMDs among women in LMICs. We searched the Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, CINAHL and Maternity and Infant Care databases systematically from the date of inception to Dec 31, 2020, for English-language publications with data on the prevalence of PSMDs among women in World Bank-defined LMICs. Selection of studies, extraction of data and assessment of study quality were each undertaken independently by at least two of the investigators. A total of five studies (completed in three countries spanning two continents) met the inclusion criteria. Five studies reported cumulative incidence of postpartum psychosis (ranging from 1.1 to 16.7 per 1000 births). We found no studies on the prevalence of severe mental disorder during pregnancy in these settings. Marked heterogeneity in methodology precluded meta-analysis. These findings indicate that PSMDs occur at a similar prevalence in low- and middle-income to high-income countries. However overall, there is a paucity of high-quality evidence from these settings. There is a need for rigorous studies with standardized methods to increase knowledge of the nature, prevalence, and determinants of PSMDs among women in resource-constrained LMICs to inform policies, service development, program planning and health professional training.

Mood episodes in pregnancy and risk of postpartum recurrence in bipolar disorder: The Bipolar Disorder Research Network Pregnancy Study

BACKGROUND

Women with bipolar disorder (BD) are at high risk of mania/psychosis following childbirth. The risk factors for these episodes remain poorly understood and prospective studies are rare. Here, we examine whether mood episodes occurring within pregnancy predict postpartum recurrence in women with BD using a prospective design.

METHOD

128 women with DSM-5 BD were followed from week 12 of pregnancy (baseline) to 12-weeks postpartum. Semi-structured interviews, supplemented by clinician questionnaires and case-note review, assessed lifetime psychiatric history at baseline, and perinatal psychopathology at two follow-up assessments: third-trimester of pregnancy and 12-weeks postpartum.

RESULTS

Postpartum follow-up data were obtained for 124/128 (97%) women [98 bipolar I disorder/schizoaffective-BD (BD-I/SA-BD group) and 26 bipolar II disorder/other specified BD and related disorder (BD-II/BD-OS group)]. Perinatal recurrence was high in both diagnostic groups (57% and 62% respectively). Women with BD-I/SA-BD were significantly more likely to experience mania/psychosis within 6 weeks postpartum (23%, n=22/96) compared to those with BD-II/BD-NOS (4%, n=1/25; p=0.042). In BD-I/SA-BD, mania/psychosis in pregnancy significantly elevated risk of mania/psychosis postpartum compared to remaining well (RR 7.0, p<0.001) and experiencing non-psychotic depression in pregnancy (RR 3.18, p=0.023) Limitations: Predominantly United Kingdom White sample and limited BD-II/BD-OS sample size.

CONCLUSIONS

Women with BD are at high risk of recurrence during pregnancy and the postpartum. Over and above risk conferred by a history of BD-I/SA-BD, mania/psychosis during pregnancy further increased risk of postpartum mania/psychosis in this high-risk group. These data may have important implications for prediction and management of severe postpartum recurrence of BD.

Association between delivering live-born twins and acute psychiatric illness within 1 year of delivery

BACKGROUND

Having twins is associated with more depressive symptoms than having singletons. However, the association between having twins and psychiatric morbidity requiring emergency department visit or inpatient hospitalization is less well known.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to determine whether women have higher risk of having a psychiatric diagnosis at an emergency department visit or inpatient admission in the year after having twins vs singletons.

STUDY DESIGN

This retrospective cohort study used International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification diagnosis and procedure codes within the Florida State Inpatient Database and State Emergency Department Database, which have an encrypted identifier allowing nearly all inpatient and emergency department encounters statewide to be linked to the medical record. The first delivery of Florida residents at the age of 13 to 55 years from 2005 to 2014 was included, regardless of parity; women with International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification coding for psychiatric illness or substance misuse during pregnancy or for stillbirth or higher-order gestations were excluded. The exposure was an International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification code during delivery hospitalization of live-born twins. The primary outcome was an International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification code during an emergency department encounter or inpatient admission within 1 year of delivery for a psychiatric morbidity composite (suicide attempt, depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder, psychosis, acute stress reaction, or adjustment disorder). The secondary outcome was drug or alcohol use or dependence within 1 year of delivery. We compared outcomes after delivery of live-born twins with singletons using multivariable logistic regression adjusting for sociodemographic and medical factors. We tested for interactions between independent variables in the primary model and conducted sensitivity analyses stratifying women by insurance type and presence of severe intrapartum morbidity or medical comorbidities.

RESULTS

A total of 17,365 women who had live-born twins and 1,058,880 who had singletons were included. Within 1 year of birth, 1.6% of women delivering twins (n=270) and 1.6% of women delivering singletons (n=17,236) had an emergency department encounter or inpatient admission coded for psychiatric morbidity (adjusted odds ratio, 1.00; 95% confidence interval, 0.88-1.14). Coding for drug or alcohol use or dependence in an emergency department encounter or inpatient admission in the year after twin vs singleton delivery was also similar (n=96 [0.6%] vs n=6222 [0.6%]; adjusted odds ratio, 1.11; 95% confidence interval, 0.91-1.36). However, women with public health insurance were more likely to be coded for drug or alcohol use or dependence after twin than singleton delivery (n=75 [1.2%] vs n=4858 [1.0%]; adjusted odds ratio, 1.27; 95% confidence interval, 1.01-1.60). Women with ≥1 medical comorbidity, severe maternal morbidity, or low income also had an increased risk of psychiatric morbidity after twin delivery (comorbidities, n=7438 [42.8%]; adjusted odds ratio, 1.30; 95% confidence interval, 1.25-1.34; severe maternal morbidity, n=940 [5.4%]; adjusted odds ratio, 1.65; 95% confidence interval, 1.49-1.81; lowest income quartile, n=4409 [26.8%]; adjusted odds ratio, 1.31; 95% confidence interval, 1.23-1.40; second-lowest income quartile, n=4770 [29.0%]; adjusted odds ratio, 1.34; 95% confidence interval, 1.26-1.43).

CONCLUSION

Overall, diagnostic codes for psychiatric illness or substance misuse in emergency department visits or hospital admissions in the year after twin vs singleton delivery are similar. However, women with who are low income or have public health insurance, comorbidities, or severe maternal morbidity are at an increased risk of postpartum psychiatric morbidity after twin vs singleton delivery.

Phenomenology, Epidemiology and Aetiology of Postpartum Psychosis: A Review

Postpartum psychoses are a severe form of postnatal mood disorders, affecting 1–2 in every 1000 deliveries. These episodes typically present as acute mania or depression with psychosis within the first few weeks of childbirth, which, as life-threatening psychiatric emergencies, can have a significant adverse impact on the mother, baby and wider family. The nosological status of postpartum psychosis remains contentious; however, evidence indicates most episodes to be manifestations of bipolar disorder and a vulnerability to a puerperal trigger. While childbirth appears to be a potent trigger of severe mood disorders, the precise mechanisms by which postpartum psychosis occurs are poorly understood. This review examines the current evidence with respect to potential aetiology and childbirth-related triggers of postpartum psychosis. Findings to date have implicated neurobiological factors, such as hormones, immunological dysregulation, circadian rhythm disruption and genetics, to be important in the pathogenesis of this disorder. Prediction models, informed by prospective cohort studies of high-risk women, are required to identify those at greatest risk of postpartum psychosis.

Postpartum Psychiatric Admissions in the United States

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to assess risk for postpartum psychiatric admissions in the United States.

STUDY DESIGN

This study used the 2010 to 2014 Nationwide Readmissions Database to identify psychiatric admissions during the first 60 days after delivery hospitalization. Timing of admission after delivery discharge was determined. We fit multivariable log-linear regression models to assess the impact of psychiatric comorbidity on admission risk, adjusting for patient, obstetrical, and hospital factors.

RESULTS

Of 15.7 million deliveries from 2010 to 2014, 11,497 women (0.07%) were readmitted for a primary psychiatric diagnosis within 60 days postpartum. Psychiatric admissions occurred relatively consistently across 10-day periods after delivery hospitalization discharge. Psychiatric diagnoses were present among 5% of women at delivery but 40% of women who were readmitted postpartum for a psychiatric indication. In the adjusted model, women with psychiatric diagnoses at delivery hospitalization were 9.7 times more likely to be readmitted compared with those without psychiatric comorbidity. Women at highest risk for psychiatric admission were those with Medicare and Medicaid, in lower income quartiles, and of younger age.

CONCLUSION

While a large proportion of psychiatric admissions occurred among a relatively small proportion of at-risk women, admissions occurred over a broad temporal period relative to other indications for postpartum admission.

Association between antenatal screening for depressive symptoms and postpartum psychiatric admissions

Antenatal depression is the strongest predictor for postpartum depression including psychiatric admission. Universal screening for depressive symptoms during pregnancy may increase the detection of clinical depression and reduce consequent morbidity. We therefore hypothesised that antenatal screening for depressive symptoms could reduce the risk of postpartum psychiatric admissions. We explored the association between antenatal depression screening and postpartum psychiatric admissions using cross-sectional retrospective analysis of state-wide population-based health services administrative data. The analysis included all pregnant women who gave birth to a singleton in Queensland in the second half of 2015 and had information in variables of interest (28,255 women; 95.6% of 29,543 women who gave birth to a singleton during the study period). Women who did not complete antenatal depression screening had increased odds of being admitted to hospital for psychiatric disorders during the first three months after birth (aOR, 2.57; 95% CI, 1.69-3.92), which extended to six months postpartum (aOR, 1.74; 95% CI, 1.10-2.76). We found similar effects for specific psychiatric disorder groups such as mood disorders; schizophrenia, schizotypal and delusional disorders; and mental disorders associated with the puerperium (aOR, 2.65; 95% CI, 1.55-4.54) and mood disorders and puerperal mental disorders (aOR, 3.00; 95% CI, 1.70-5.30). Completion of antenatal depression screening appears to be associated with a decreased risk of psychiatric admission in the first postnatal months. This finding suggests that screening, and associated follow-up interventions, might decrease the severity of depressive symptoms during the perinatal period.

Antipsychotics in Postpartum Psychosis

BACKGROUND

Psychotic episodes in the postpartum period are life-threatening psychiatric emergencies, requiring urgent medical attention and admission to a psychiatric hospital.

AREAS OF UNCERTAINTY

Although the postpartum psychosis (PPP) is the most severe psychiatric disorder associated with parturition, there is little information about what interventions are most effective. Because there are no specific guidelines for the treatment of PPP, the aim of the present review was to examine the available evidence regarding the treatment of PPP.

DATA SOURCES

The PubMed database was searched based on the title and the abstract, using the key words "postpartum psychosis," "postpartum psychosis antipsychotics," "postpartum psychosis treatment," and "postpartum psychosis pharmacotherapy," for both interventional and observational, irrespective of language.

RESULTS

A number of 14 publications met the study criteria, including case reports and case series. The antipsychotics (APs) use included both first generation APs, such as haloperidol and chlorpromazine, and second generation APs, mainly, olanzapine, quetiapine, and risperidone. The most frequently used AP was olanzapine. Olanzapine and quetiapine seem to be the most acceptable during breastfeeding. Proposed treatment algorithms for the successful management of PPP are discussed.

CONCLUSIONS

The existing studies to date do not allow to draw a definitive conclusion regarding which treatment is the most effective or the most adequate. Existing evidence suggests that APs alone or in combination are responsible for sustained remission and that treated PPP has a higher pace of improvement of the mental status, with a rapid discharge from the hospital. Clinical studies to compare the efficacy and safety of different APs in the PPP are needed to provide guidance on treatment interventions.

Postpartum psychosis in bipolar disorder: no evidence of association with personality traits, cognitive style or affective temperaments

BACKGROUND

Bipolar disorder has been associated with several personality traits, cognitive styles and affective temperaments. Women who have bipolar disorder are at increased risk of experiencing postpartum psychosis, however little research has investigated these traits and temperaments in relation to postpartum psychosis. The aim of this study is to establish whether aspects of personality, cognitive style and affective temperament that have been associated with bipolar disorder also confer vulnerability to postpartum psychosis over and above their known association with bipolar disorder.

METHODS

Personality traits (neuroticism, extraversion, schizotypy and impulsivity), cognitive styles (low self-esteem and dysfunctional attitudes) and affective temperaments (including cyclothymic and depressive temperaments) were compared between two groups of parous women with DSM-IV bipolar I disorder: i) 284 with a lifetime history of postpartum psychosis within 6 weeks of delivery (PP group), ii) 268 without any history of mood episodes with onset during pregnancy or within 6 months of delivery (no perinatal mood episode, No PME group).

RESULTS

After controlling for current mood state, and key demographic, clinical and pregnancy-related variables, there were no statistically significant differences between the PP and No PME groups on any of the personality, cognitive style or affective temperament measures.

CONCLUSIONS

Personality traits, cognitive styles and affective temperaments previously shown to be associated with bipolar disorder in general were not specifically associated with the occurrence of postpartum psychosis. These factors may not be relevant for predicting risk of postpartum psychosis in women with bipolar disorder.

Association between stillbirth ≥23 weeks gestation and acute psychiatric illness within 1 year of delivery

BACKGROUND

Stillbirth has been associated with emotional and psychologic symptoms. The association between stillbirth and diagnosed postpartum psychiatric illness is less well-known.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to determine whether women have a higher risk of experiencing clinician-diagnosed psychiatric morbidity in the year after stillbirth vs livebirth.

STUDY DESIGN

This retrospective cohort study used International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification diagnosis and procedure codes to identify participants, exposures, and outcomes within the Florida State Inpatient and State Emergency Department databases. The first delivery of female Florida residents aged 13-54 years old from 2005-2014 was included; women with International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification coding for psychiatric illness or substance use during pregnancy were excluded. The exposure was an International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification diagnosis code during delivery hospitalization of a stillbirth at ≥23 weeks gestation. The primary outcome was a primary or secondary International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification diagnosis code during an Emergency Department encounter or inpatient admission within 1 year of delivery for a composite of psychiatric morbidity: suicide attempt, depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder, psychosis, acute stress reaction, or adjustment disorder. The secondary outcome was a substance use composite of drug or alcohol use or dependence. We compared outcomes after delivery of stillbirth vs livebirth using multivariable logistic regression, adjusting for maternal sociodemographic factors, medical comorbidities, and severe intrapartum morbidity. We also used Cox proportional hazard models and tested for violation of the proportional hazard assumption to identify the highest risk time within the year after stillbirth delivery for the primary outcome, adjusting for the same factors and morbidities as in the logistic regression model.

RESULTS

A total of 8292 women with stillborn singletons and 1,194,758 with liveborn singletons were included. Within 1 year of hospital discharge after stillbirth, 4.0% of the women (n=331) had an Emergency Department encounter or inpatient admission that was coded for psychiatric morbidity; the risk was nearly 2.5 times higher compared with livebirth (1.6%; n=19,746); adjusted odds ratio, 2.47; 95% confidence interval, 2.20- 2.77). Women also had higher risk of having an Emergency Department encounter or inpatient admission coded for drug or alcohol use or dependence in the year after delivery of stillbirth vs livebirth (124 [1.5%] vs 7033 [0.6%]; adjusted odds ratio, 2.41; 95% confidence interval, 1.99-2.90). Cox proportional hazard modeling suggested that the highest risk interval for postpartum psychiatric illness was within 4 months of stillbirth delivery (adjusted hazard ratio, 3.26; 95% confidence interval, 2.63-4.04), although the risk remained high during the 4-12 months after delivery (adjusted hazard ratio, 2.42; 95% confidence interval, 2.13-2.76).

CONCLUSION

Coding for psychiatric illness or substance misuse in Emergency Department visits or hospital admissions in the year after delivery of livebirths was not uncommon, corresponding to nearly 2 per 100 women. However, having a stillbirth was associated with increased risk of both psychiatric morbidity (corresponding to 1 per 25 women) and substance misuse (corresponding to 3 in 100 women), with the highest risk of postpartum psychiatric morbidity occurring from delivery until 4 months after delivery.

Association Between Severe Maternal Morbidity and Psychiatric Illness Within 1 Year of Hospital Discharge After Delivery

OBJECTIVE

To estimate whether severe maternal morbidity is associated with increased risk of psychiatric illness in the year after delivery hospital discharge.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study used International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) codes within Florida's Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project's databases. The first liveborn singleton delivery from 2005 to 2015 was included; women with ICD-9-CM codes for psychiatric illness or substance use disorder during pregnancy were excluded. The exposure was ICD-9-CM codes during delivery hospitalization of severe maternal morbidity, as per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The primary outcome was ICD-9-CM codes in emergency department encounter or inpatient admission within 1 year of hospital discharge of composite psychiatric morbidity (suicide attempt, depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder, psychosis, acute stress reaction, or adjustment disorder). The secondary outcome was a composite of ICD-9-CM codes for substance use disorder. We compared women with severe maternal morbidity with those without severe maternal morbidity using multivariable logistic regression adjusting for sociodemographic factors and medical comorbidities. Cox proportional hazard models identified the highest risk period after hospital discharge for the primary outcome.

RESULTS

A total of 15,510 women with severe maternal morbidity and 1,178,458 without severe maternal morbidity were included. Within 1 year of hospital discharge, 2.9% (n=452) of women with severe maternal morbidity had the primary outcome compared with 1.6% (n=19,279) of women without severe maternal morbidity, resulting in an adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 1.74 (95% CI 1.58-1.91). The highest risk interval was within 4 months of discharge (adjusted hazard ratio [adjusted HR] 2.53 [95% CI 2.05-3.12]). Most severe maternal morbidity conditions were associated with higher risk of postpartum psychiatric illness. Women with severe maternal morbidity had nearly twofold higher risk of postpartum substance use disorder (170 [1.1%] vs 6,861 [0.6%]; aOR 1.91 [95% CI 1.64-2.23]).

CONCLUSION

Though absolute numbers were modest, severe maternal morbidity was associated with increased risk of severe postpartum psychiatric morbidity and substance use disorder. The highest period of risk extended to 4 months after hospital discharge.

Risk factors for hospitalizations associated with depression among women during the years around a birth: a retrospective cohort study

Introduction

Socio-economic status (SES) is an important determinant of health. Low SES is associated with higher rates of prenatal and post-partum depression, and prenatal and post-partum depression are associated with sub-optimal maternal and infant health. Furthermore, increased negative effects of post-partum depression have been reported in children from low SES backgrounds.

Objective

To assess whether SES was related to the risk of a medical or psychiatric hospitalization associated with depression (HAWD) and the risk of a HAWD by anti-depressant (AD) use during the years around a birth.

Methods

This retrospective cohort study used linked birth, hospitalization, prescription and tax-file records of the study cohort. We linked registry data of 243,933 women delivering 348,273 live infants in British Columbia (1999-2009). The outcomes of interest were a HAWD and a HAWD with the associated patient AD use. Ranked area-based measures of equivalised, family disposable income were used to create income deciles, our proxy for SES. Decile-1 represented the lowest income areas, and mothers from Decile-6 (middle-income) were the comparator group. Anti-depressant use was defined as having a prescription for a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) or other AD during the years around a birth, defined as the period beginning 12 months before conception and ending 12 months after the birth. We analysed by pregnancy using mixed effects logistic regression whilst adjusting for maternal age and parity.

Results

Compared to mothers from middle-income areas (Decile-6), mothers from low income areas (Decile-1, Decile-2) had increased odds of a HAWD [adjusted OR=1.77 (CI: 1.43, 2.19); adjusted OR=1.56 (CI: 1.26, 1.94)]. Mothers from low income areas with depression and no AD use had even higher odds of a HAWD [adjusted OR=1.83 (CI: 1.33, 2.20); adjusted OR=1.71(CI: 1.33, 2.20)].

Conclusions

This study provides preliminary evidence to suggest that barriers to treating depression with ADs in mothers from low income areas during the years around a birth might contribute to their increased risk of a HAWD associated with non-pharmacologically treated depression. Further research is needed to understand the reasons for this increased risk.

Disclaimer

All inferences, opinions, and conclusions drawn in this manuscript are those of the authors and do not reflect the opinions or policies of the Data Stewards of Population Data BC.

Socioeconomic status and treatment of depression during pregnancy: a retrospective population-based cohort study in British Columbia, Canada

Women at the lower end of the socioeconomic distribution have higher rates of depression in pregnancy; however, we know little about the role of socioeconomic status (SES) in determining their treatment. Herein, we investigate the relationships between income and the use of health services for depression in pregnancy. This retrospective cohort study using population-based administrative datasets included all women who delivered a live infant in the province of British Columbia, Canada (population of 4.3 million) between April 1st, 2000 and December 31st, 2009. We restricted to women with an indication of depression during pregnancy and examined their use of health services to treat depression by income quintile. Women in the highest income quintile were significantly more likely to see a psychiatrist for depression during pregnancy and to fill prescriptions for serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SRI) antidepressants than women in the lowest income quintile. Women at the lower end of the income distribution were more likely to have a GP visit for depression. Women at the low end of the income distribution were more likely to end up in hospital for depression or a mental health condition during pregnancy and more likely to receive a benzodiazepine and/or an antipsychotic medication. Our findings suggest a critical gap in access to health services for women of lower income suffering from depression during pregnancy, a time when proper access to effective treatment has the most potential to improve the long-term health of the developing child and the whole family unit.

Sex differences in depression during pregnancy and the postpartum period

Women have a lifetime risk of major depression double that of men but only during their reproductive years. This sex difference has been attributed partially to activational effects of female sex steroids and also to the burdens of pregnancy, childbirth, and parenting. Men, in contrast, have a reproductive period difficult to delineate, and research on the mental health of men has rarely considered the effects of fatherhood. However, the couple goes through a number of potentially stressing events during the reproductive period, and both mothers and fathers are at risk of developing peripartum depression. This Review discusses the literature on maternal and paternal depression and the endocrine changes that may predispose a person to depression at this stage of life, with specific focus on the hypothalamus–pituitary axis, oxytocin, and testosterone levels in men. Important findings on sex differences in the neural correlates of maternal and paternal behavior have emerged, highlighting the relevance of the emotional brain in mothers and the sociocognitive brain in fathers and pointing toward the presence of a common parents' brain. Additionally, sex differences in neurogenesis and brain plasticity are described in relation to peripartum depression. © 2016 The Authors. Journal of Neuroscience Research Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Phenotypical characteristics of postpartum psychosis: A clinical cohort study

OBJECTIVES

Postpartum psychosis (PP) is known for its clear onset but its phenotype has never been clearly described in a cohort. The aim of this study was to describe PP symptomatology, and to identify subgroups of patients based on symptom profiles.

METHODS

We prospectively assessed a wide range of symptoms in cases of PP in a cohort of women (N=130) admitted to the Mother-Baby inpatient unit. Using a person-centered analytic approach, we distinguished mutually exclusive subgroups of women. Subgroups were related to demographic and clinical characteristics.

RESULTS

The most prevalent symptoms of PP were irritability (73%), abnormal thought content (72%), and anxiety (71%). Suicidal and infanticidal ideation was present in 19% and 8% of patients, respectively. Delusions and hallucinations often had a negative content. Latent class analysis revealed three symptom profiles, a manic (34%), depressive (41%) and atypical (25%) profile, respectively. The manic profile is characterized by manic symptoms and agitation, the depressive profile by depressive and anxiety symptoms, and the atypical profile by disturbance of consciousness and disorientation. In women with a depressive profile, treatment was started 2 weeks later (P=.049), and more often voluntarily, than in manic and atypical women (P=.037).

CONCLUSIONS

We distinguished subgroups of PP patients with a manic, depressive, and atypical profile. Disturbance of consciousness, disorientation, and depersonalization/derealization were less prevalent than previously suggested in the literature. Instead, the depressive profile was the most prevalent, but the depressive profile can easily remain undetected, which could lead to treatment delay and risk of suicide/infanticide. Within the manic profile, irritability was highly prevalent and occurred more often than elevated mood.

Admission to psychiatric hospital for mental illnesses 2 years prechildbirth and postchildbirth in Scotland: a health informatics approach to assessing mother and child outcomes

OBJECTIVE

To identify factors associated with: admission to a specialist mother and baby unit (MBU) and the impact of perinatal mental illness on early childhood development using a data linkage approach in the 2 years prechildbirth and postchildbirth.

METHODS

Scottish maternity records (SMR02) were linked to psychiatric hospital admissions (SMR04). 3290 pregnancy-related psychiatric admissions for 1730 women were assessed. To investigate factors associated with MBU admission, the group of mothers admitted to an MBU were compared with those admitted to general psychiatric wards. To assess the impact of perinatal mental illness on early child development, a pragmatic indicator for 'at potential risk of adversity', defined as a child who was recorded as requiring intensive treatment at any time under the health plan indicators (HPI) and/or who had no record of completing three doses of the 5-in-1 vaccine by 12 months was generated. Logistic regression models were used to describe the association between each variable and the risk of admission between those with a history of prior psychiatric admission and those without.

RESULTS

Women admitted to an MBU were significantly more likely to be admitted with non-affective psychosis (OR=1.97, 95% CI 1.22 to 3.18), affective psychosis (OR=2.44, 95% CI 1.37 to 4.33) and non-psychotic depressive episodes (OR=1.93, 95% CI 1.42 to 2.63). They were less likely to come from deprived areas (OR=0.68 95% CI 0.49 to 0.93). Women with a previous history of psychiatric admission were significantly more likely to be located in the two most deprived quintiles. Almost one-third (29%) of children born to mothers with a pregnancy-related psychiatric admission were assessed as 'at potential risk of adversity.'

CONCLUSIONS

A health informatics approach has potential for improving understanding of social and clinical factors, which contribute to the outcomes of perinatal mental illness, as well as potential adverse developmental outcomes for offspring.