Psychiatrist.com5 Minute Pearls: Psychiatric Disorders During Pregnancy and the Postpartum

Marlene P. Freeman, MD, is an expert in women’s reproductive mental health, the editor-in-chief of The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, and a professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. She provides ideas that are clinically applicable in this 5 Minute Pearls video.

As physicians, understanding the nuances of postpartum psychiatric disorders is crucial for effective patient care. Here are the key takeaways from Dr. Freeman’s insights:

• “Postpartum blues,” characterized by transient mild sadness, is a normal condition affecting about 80% of women.
• Postpartum depression can persist up to a year postpartum, necessitating close monitoring of mood changes.
• Postpartum psychosis, a rare but significant condition, affects one in 1,000 women post-childbirth and often requires hospitalization.
• Bipolar disorder is a critical consideration during pregnancy and postpartum, with women at an increased risk of relapse if they discontinue mood stabilizers.
• The postpartum period is particularly vulnerable for the onset of severe mood episodes in women with bipolar disorder, including the risk of postpartum psychosis.
• Anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) symptoms are highly prevalent postpartum and require aggressive treatment.
• Physicians should be aware of available resources for further information on postpartum psychiatric disorders.