2. Perinatal Psychiatry
Perinatal psychiatry deals with mental illness
associated with choldbearing.
Also concerned with antenatal disorders,
associated psychiatric problems in fathers and the
special needs of parents who are psychiatrically
ill.
Nosologically, puerperal psychiatric states may
be divided into 3 categories which overlap to
some extent.
3. Historical Consideration
1858 MarceMarce, a French psychiatrist, described a
series of 310 women with a mental illness a/w
childbirth. Delirium and lability of moodDelirium and lability of mood were
common and it often started at the fourth or fifthfourth or fifth
postpartum day.
20 years later, EsquirolEsquirol said ‘large number of
mild to moderate cases’ of mental illness were
cared for at home and ‘never recorded’.
4. Diagnostic Issues
Are Postpartum disorders distinct entitiesdistinct entities?
are they different from non-puerperal illness?
How to differentiate the 3 categories?
because of their overlappingoverlapping symptoms
Why are they often undiagnosed?
they are maskedmasked by constitutional symptoms of
childbirth
5. Treatment Issues
Is the medication safesafe for the baby?
i.e. during pregnancy and breastfeeding
If left untreated, will there be any long-
term consequencesconsequences?
Can we identify those women at riskwomen at risk?
the predisposing and precipitating factors
7. Postnatal Blues
Also known as baby or maternity blues, or
transitory mood disturbances (Cox 1993)
In the first few days after childbirth
In up to 70% of women (most common)
Anxiety, depression and confusion
peak at 4th to 5th day
transient, lasted 2-3 days
8. Characteristics
Victoroff (1952) coined the term “maternitymaternity
bluesblues”, seeing it as a similar state to premenstrual
syndrome.
Prevalence vary 30-70%
Perhaps a non-specific reaction to hormonalhormonal
changechange following delivery
9. Characteristics
O’Hara (1991) described it as “specific affective
syndrome associated with childbirth”
characterized by symptoms of labile mood with
tearfulness, irritability, anxiety, hypochondriasis,
and sleeplessness in the 10 days10 days after childbirth.
In a large prospective study - it belong to the
spectrum of affective disordersspectrum of affective disorders
10. Common Psychological Symptoms
Low mood
Anxiety
Tiredness
Ambivalence about the baby
Reduced sexual interest
Anger & bitterness
11. Etiology
Harris (1994), found a small but robust associationrobust association
between maternity blues and change in level of
progesterone immediately after birth.
The higher the antenatal progesterone levelantenatal progesterone level,
the steeper the gradient of the risegradient of the rise, and
the bigger the drop in progesterone leveldrop in progesterone level after
delivery, the more severe were the blues.
blues peaked when progesterone levels at
their lowest
12. Biological and Social Factors
Body weight and fluid, and levels of electrolytes
(Stein 1981), monoamines (Treadway 1969),
serum tryptophan (Handley 1980)
History of premenstrual syndromepremenstrual syndrome, antepartum
depression (O’Hara 1991)
Poor general social adjustmentgeneral social adjustment during pregnancy,
rather than partnership problems, were the
strongest predictors of the blues (O’Hara 1991)
13. A Review by Alain Gregoire (2000)
Biological causes: nature & timing of
blues, h/o PMS
The only protective social factor is
supportive social relationshipsupportive social relationship
Social class, chronic stresses and life
events do not seem related
No evidence for difficult and exhaustive
delivery, being in hospital, and perineal
pain.
14. Postnatal Depression
Responsible for most postnatal psychiatric
morbidity and suffering in the community and
requires careful planning of services for
prevention, detection and treatment in primary and
secondary care.
15. Postnatal Depression
Peaks at 4-6 weeks
Prevalence of major depression is 10-15%
in the first 3 months postpartum
4-6 weeks if treated, up to 1 year if
untreated
16. Characteristics
Clasically described as “smiling depressionsmiling depression”
(Dalton 1971) characterized by an outward
display of normality
The psychic aspects of depression in postpartum
period are probably little different to depressive
episodes at any other time.
Prevalence: 20% in 6 weeks postpartum had at
least mild depressive episodemild depressive episode (Paykel 1980)
17. Clinical Features
Excessive anxiety about her baby’s health that
cannot be diminished by reassurance
Self-blame: the mother believes she cannot live up to her own
expectations of a ‘good mother’ nor is she competent as her own
mother. She also compare herself unfavorably with others in the
neighbourhood.
Sleep difficulty due to mood disturbances, but often masked by
the disruption of night feeds or noisy hospital routine
A complaint of a depressed mood or behaviorally tearful
etc
18. Clinical Features
Suicidal thoughts or fear of harming the baby
Irritability and loss of libido leading to deterioration of
marital relationship
Worry at her rejection of the baby and a reluctant
to feed or handle it
A fear that the baby may not be hers, or could be
deformed in some ways
19. Etiology
In contrast to maternity blues, postnatal depression has aa
clear setclear set of associated factors.
Older and younger women (Paykel 1980)
Unsupportive partners (Watson 1984)
Twice more life events (Paykel 1980)
Previous mental illness (Paykel 1980)
Thyroid dysfunction
20. Factors for Apparent Neglect
An assumption that all mood disturbances in the
puerperium are ‘just postnatal blues’just postnatal blues’, i.e. They are not
only common but transitory and therefore of no clinical importance
Transfer from hospitalTransfer from hospital occur at/about the same
time when the illness begins, so the the likelihood of an
accurate diagnosis being made is diminished
The health worker and family may be more
concerned with physical health andphysical health and
developmental milestonesdevelopmental milestones of the baby,
21. Factors for Apparent Neglect
LimitedLimited psychiatric training of GP, midwives may
delay diagnosis
The mothers may not report their depressed
mood, because they do not recognize their distress as an illness or
they fear that their guilt and inadequacy will be reinforced
Therefore, early identificationearly identification of postnatal depression is often
difficult
absence of antenatal predictorsantenatal predictors, other than hereditary
predisposition and previous psychiatric history
Often develops unexpectedlyunexpectedly ‘out of the blue’
22. Detection
Weight loss, menstrual change, low libido,
appetite change, and change of general interest
may be normal postpartum phenomena
EPDS rates core featurescore features of low mood,
anhedonia, anxiety, and sleep disturbances due to
anxiety.
EPDS superior than BDI in postpartum period
(self-rated)
Equal to 17-item Hamilton scale & MADRS
(observer-rated)
23. Impact on Child Development
(Cooper & Murray 1998)
Cognitive developmentCognitive development is adversely affected,
especially among male and socioeconomically
disadvantage groups
The children tend to have insecure attachmentinsecure attachment at
18 months and the boys then show high level of
frank behavioral disturbancesfrank behavioral disturbances at 5 years
The adverse child outcome is related to the
disturbances in mother-infant interactionsmother-infant interactions
24. Classification of Postpartum Mental
Illness (Sichel, 1998)
Postpartum blues
Pure depression of postpartum onset (no h/o
previous depression)
Depression of antenatal onset
Depression with previous h/o non-pueperial
depression
Depression with comorbid diagnoses
25. DSM-IV Criteria for Postpartum
Onset Specifier
Specify if
With Postpartum Onset (can be applied to the
current or most recent Major Depression, Manic,
or Mixed Episode in Major Depressive Disorder,
Bipolar I Disorder, or Bipolar II Disorder; or to
Brief Psychotic Disorder)
Onset of episode within 4 weeks4 weeks postpartum
26. ICD-10
F53 Mental and behavioral disorders
associated with the pueperium, not
elsewhere classified
Commencing within 6 weeks of delivery
and, either
insufficient data
because it is considered that special additional
features are present which make classification
elsewhere inappropriate
27. ICD-10
F53.0 Mild Mental and behavioral disorders associated with the
pueperium, not elsewhere classified
Postnatal depression NOS
Postpartum depression NOS
F53.1 Severe Mental and behavioral disorders associated with
the pueperium, not elsewhere classified
Puerperal psychosis NOS
F53.8 Other Mental and behavioral disorders associated with the
pueperium, not elsewhere classified
F53.9 Puerperal mental disorder, unspecified
29. Puerperal Psychosis
Most severe postnatal disorder, it requires
specialist psychiatric care and usually admission,
preferably to a specialist mother-and-baby service
30. Puerperal Psychosis
1-2 per 1000 birth
(0.1-0.2%)
Usually begins in first
week after delivery
In most cases,
affective disorder
akin the manic
depressive illness
31. Characteristics
One of the most serious psychiatric conditions -
may endanger the livesendanger the lives of both mother and baby
Prevalence: 1-2 in 1000 births1-2 in 1000 births (Kendel 1987) -
the majority bipolar illness.
Risk of developing bipolar at postpartum period
is 35 times35 times more than at any other time during a
woman’s life.
32. Clinical Presentation
Severe insomnia and early morning waking
Lability of mood, sudden tearfulness or
inappropriate laughter
Persistent perplexity, disorientation or
depersonalization
Unusual behavior such as restlessness,
excitement or sullen withdrawal
33. Clinical Presentation
Unexpected rejection of the baby or a
conviction that the baby is deformed or
dead
Paranoid ideas that may involve hospital
staff or close family relations
Suicidal or infanticidal threats
Excessive guilt, depression or anxiety
34. Etiology
Puerperal psychosis is associated with (Kendel 1987)
A family history of bipolar illnessbipolar illness
A personal history of bipolar illness
Primiparity
Perinatal mortality
Lack of partner support
35. Etiology
Puerperal psychosis is related to the vast postnatal
hormonal changeshormonal changes.
Relapse could be predicted by apomorphine
challenge test in immediate postpartum
period - increase GH secretion (Wieck 1991)
Not replicated by Mearkin 1995 study
Efficacy of estrogen treatment (Henderson
1991)
36. Predisposing and precipitating factors according to
Gregoire review (2000)
a previous or family history of psychosispsychosis,
particularly pueperal
first pregnancy
perinatal death
alcohol or drug abuse
poor marital relationship
poor social support
37. Treatment
Usually includes antipsychotic, and possibly
antidepressant medication.
In breastfeeding women: traditional antipsychotic
is preferable.
In non breast-feeding women: atypical
antipsychotic
ECT
Hospitalization
38. FDA Rating of Drug
Safety in Pregnancy
Category A: No fetal risks in controlled human studies
e.g., folic acid, iron.
Category B: No fetal risk in animal studies but no
controlled human studies OR fetal risk in animals but no risk in
well-controlled human studies e.g., caffeine, nicotine,
acetaminophen.
Category C: Adverse fetal effect in animals
and no human data available e.g., aspirin,
haloperidolhaloperidol, chlorpromazinechlorpromazine.
39. FDA Rating of Drug
Safety in Pregnancy
Category D: Human fetal
risk seen (may be used in
life-threatening situation)
e.g., lithiumlithium, tetracycline,
ethanol.
Category X: Proved fetal
risk in humans (no indication
for use, even in life-
threatening situations) e.g.,
valproic acidvalproic acid, thalidomide.
40. Antipsychotic and
Lactation
Milk-to-plasma ratio: chlorpromazine 0.3:1 and
perphenazine 1:1
Phenothiazine use in lactating women
Has not been associated with
serious consequences
Breast feeding is contraindicatedBreast feeding is contraindicated
41. Lithium
Principle indication: prophylaxis of bipolar
illness
Use in pregnancy:
avoid if possible in first 10 weeks of pregnancy
(small increased risk of cardiac abnormalities),
levels need more frequent monitoring,
dose need to be increased
Use during breast-feeding: monitor levels and
infant closely
42. Carbamazepine & Valproate
Principle indication: prophylaxis of bipolar
illness
Use in pregnancy:
avoid if possible ( increased risk of neural tube
defects)
lithium preferred
Use during breast-feeding: safe
43. Benzodiazepines
Principle indication: brief (max 4 weeks)
treatment of acute anxiety or insomnia
Use in pregnancy:
Avoid in first trimester (possible increased risk of
oral cleft)
short-acting type preferred
Use during breast-feeding: short-acting type
preferred
44. Transcultural Issues
Remarkable similarity in prevalence across
different culture (Kumar 1994)
Postnatal blues are not generally affected by cultural
factors
Intercultural differences cannot be shown for
postnatal depression
Puerperal psychosis is consistent across cultural and
ethnic divides
Unchanging incidence over the past 150 years
45. Transcultural Issues
Howard 1993, stated that puerperal psychosis are
more common in the developing world, which
suggest the importance of organic factor.
Hypothesis: lack of ‘rites of incorporation’ are
related to postnatal depression (present-day
ambiguity about social norms postpartum)