Psychotic disorders of postpartum period as states of potential threat to newborn’s life and health (Clinical Case analysis)

Abstract

This article describes clinical picture of postnatal psychoses. In literature devoted to women’s postpartum mental disorders there are three variants: postpartum syndrome of “parturient sadness” (postpartum “blues”), postpartum depression and postpartum psychosis. Also, such diseases as postpartum panic disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorders, posttraumatic stress and others may occur. Ethiology of postpartum mental disorders may differ. In psychiatric literature the beginning of endogenic processual disease (with further chronical lifetime course) is often connected with development of postpartum psychosis. However, there are a lot of mentions about a possible beginning of psychosis due to exogenous hazards – after tough and long delivery followed convulsions and fever (40 Celcius and above). Interrelation with hidden infanticide is carried out. Infanticide includes cases of unpurposed and purposed abandoning an infant in situations dangerous for its health and life. Risk of postpartum psychoses followed by infanticide significantly increases in case of first-line relatives’ suicides. Case of severe delirious psychotic disorder during patient’s postpartum period in SPbSPMU is given. Psychopathologic symptoms of disorder are discussed. Lack of interrelation between pathological feelings and patient's belonging to concrete religious denomination is emphasized. Nosology of the given clinical case is discussed. Well-timed diagnostics of postpartum psychotic states is practically relevant. Postpartum psychoses are states that need evaluation from different perspectives.