Overcoming Postpartum Depression and Anxiety by Linda Sebastian

Author:Linda Sebastian
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Addicus Books
Published: 1998-01-15T00:00:00+00:00

What about future postpartum risks after a psychotic depression episode?

A woman with postpartum psychosis is at risk of future postpartum psychotic episodes, and all of her health care providers should be so informed. Some experts estimate this risk to be as high as 40 to 60 percent. One study shows the risk to be 100 percent if the previous episode occurred within the past twenty-four months.

There have been some attempts to prevent recurrences in women known to be at risk. But these preventive measures have been based on small samples, so further research is needed. The mood stabilizer lithium has been given to women after delivery to prevent postpartum psychosis. Researcher Dr. Deborah Sichel has also reported on the use of estrogen after delivery to prevent the development of mood disorders. She hypothesizes that the change in estrogen levels after delivery may cause an “estrogen withdrawal state” that causes the extreme mood swings. Because Sichel’s study involved a small number of women, however, caution is advised in using estrogen after delivery until more research is completed.

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