Postpartum psychiatric disorders

Abstract

Postpartum Mood Syndromes are Postpartum Blues (maternity blues), Postpartum Depression and Postpartum psychosis. Whether these are distinct syndromes or rather a continuum is unclear. These disorders can disrupt family lives and have a negative effect on the development of infant and increased risk of subsequent psychopathology in the mother. SSRI's (especially Fluoxetine) have revolutionised the treatment in feeding mothers. ECT is the treatment of choice in postpartum disorders if symptoms escalate or do not respond to pharmacotherapy.