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Postpartum psychosis - Postpartum psychosis Symptom, Cause, Treatment
While it is the most extreme form of postpartum mood disorders , postpartum psychosis is also one of the rarest.A woman with postpartum psychosis may feel detached from her baby and other people; have hallucinations involving smell, touch, sight, or hearing; have thoughts not based in reality (delusions); display bizarre behavior; or have urges to kill herself and her child or children . As with treating any psychosis, we need to first rule out any physiological cause such as thyroid storms, seizure disorders or drug-induced psychosis . It is important that the affected individual not be labeled a bad mother. Unfortunately, though many women with the disorder realize something is wrong with them, fewer than 20% actually speak to their healthcare provider . But by disclosing these risk factors during the pregnancy, she and her physician can work towards an effective treatment plan should a depressive or psychotic incident occur Experiencing depression after child birth isn't a character flaw or a weakness. Sometimes it's simply part of giving birth. Subsequently if the mother has been breastfeeding and continues to do so, the baby needs to be monitored for drowsiness or lethargic behavior, and prescribing the least amount of anti-psychotic medication in order for symptom reduction to occur is also crucial.
Symptoms of Postpartum psychosis
Some symptoms of Postpartum psychosis :
- Delusions
- Insomnia
- Lack of pleasure or interest in activities that once gave pleasure
- Loss of energy
- Agitation or anxiety
- Crying
- Thoughts of death or suicide
- Refusing to eat
- Suicidal or homicidal thoughts
- Feelings of terror and shame about the disturbing thoughts and visions you're having
Causes of Postpartum psychosis
The common causes of Postpartum psychosis :
- Women who go on to develop postpartum depression may be more sensitive to these hormonal changes.
- Levels of the hormones estrogen, progesterone, and cortisol fall dramatically within 48 hours after delivery.
- Postpartum mental disorder after an earlier pregnancy
- Many lifestyle factors can lead to depression, including a demanding baby or older siblings, difficulty breast-feeding, exhaustion, financial problems, and lack of support from your partner or other loved ones.
- Women may have a sense of loss after delivery because they are no longer pregnant.
- A family history of depression
- A traumatic delivery can bring on feelings of depression.
- psychological stresses of new motherhood
Treatment of Postpartum psychosis
- A complete medical examination
- psychotherapy
- Psychotherapy for the woman and her family can be very helpful in enhancing coping skills, educating them on caring for a newborn, and providing support.
- These medications are typically used to treat psychotic disorders, such as schizophrenia.
- This therapy applies a small amount of electrical current to your brain to produce brain waves similar to those that occur during a seizure.
- While self-care cannot take the place of medical care in depression, there are things you can do to improve your mood and your ability to function at home.
- Treatment of moderate to severe postpartum depression includes antidepressants, lithium, electoconvulsive therapy (ECT), or antipsychotics, depending on the nature of the symptoms and diagnosis.
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