Prenatal symptoms in postpartum psychotic reactions

Clinical Treatment of <i>post partum</i> Delirium with Perfenazine and Lithium Carbonate

“…Prospective studies (Seidenberg, 1949;Scott Verinis and Lyon, 1972), like retrospective studies {Nilsson et al, 1967a), are of little assistance in determin ing preventive measures. Other authors emphasize the sychosocial changes that occur after the birth {Clayton et Paffenbarger, 1961;Stevens, 1971, Davidson, 1972, Stein, 1968.…”

Post partum disturbance ... A review of the literature in terms of stress response

“…Signs of psychotic disturbance occur early in the pregnancy according to Madden, indicating a personality predisposition, although overt depression or other types do not usually occur until the immediate post partum period 12,11 . Dalton 16 observed a continuum through pregnancy of early anxiety, to elation, to depression in the puerperium, but her findings are not supported by others 17 . Additionally, observations of early personality dysfunction in the schizophrenically borderline individual vary widely and appear dependent upon subjective assessment versus controlled study.…”

“…She describes an improved emotional state of vegetative calmness, pleasurable thoughts about mothering and libidinous feelings during pregnancy. While several authors note improved functioning of normal, neurotic or borderline patients during pregnancy 2,17,9,20 , recent investigations have identified less positive and more specific characteristics of emotional and cognitive states of pregnancy and early puerperium. Tod noted that most pregnant women described anxiety within resolvable parameters and Biskind relates anxiety in pregnancy to the following:…”

A comparative evaluation of psychotic and nonpsychotic reactions to childbirth.

“…On the basis of this study, which compares the psychological records of 11 women who manifested no clinical signs of an emotional disorder following parturition with the psychological records of 11 hospitalized patients who manifested a post-partum psychosis, the following conclusions may be drawn:…”