Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Information and support needs during recovery from postpartum psychosis

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Archives of Women's Mental Health Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Postpartum Psychosis (PP) is a severe and debilitating psychiatric illness with acute onset in the days following childbirth. Recovering from an episode can be a long and difficult process. The aim of this study was to gain an understanding of the difficulties faced by recovering women and to inform the planning of post-discharge information and support services. A study was designed collaboratively by service user and academic researchers. Women with experience of PP were trained in qualitative research methodology. Service user researchers (SURs) led in-depth interviews into women’s experiences of recovery. PP is a life-changing experience that challenges women’s sense of personal and social identity. Recovery themes are organised around ruminating and rationalising, rebuilding social confidence, gaining appropriate health service support, the facilitation of family functioning, obtaining appropriate information, and understanding that recovery will take time. Women suffering from PP must be adequately supported following discharge from psychiatric hospital if we are to address maternal suicide rates. We describe a successful collaboration between academics and service users exploring the needs of women and their families.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bloor M (1997) Techniques of validation in qualitative research: A critical commentary. In: Miller G, Dingwall R (eds) Context and method in qualitative research. Sage Publications, Ltd., London

    Google Scholar 

  • Brockington I (1996) Motherhood and mental health. Oxford University Press, Oxford

    Google Scholar 

  • Caramlau I, Barlow J, Sembi S, McKenzie-McHarg K, McCabe C (2011) Trials. Mums 4 Mums: structured telephone peer-support for women experiencing postnatal depression. Pilot and exploratory RCT of its clinical and cost effectiveness. Mar 25;12:88

    Google Scholar 

  • Dennis CL (2003) The effect of peer-support on postpartum depression: a pilot randomised controlled trial. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry 45:61–70

    Google Scholar 

  • Engqvist I, Nilsson A, Nilsson K, Sjöström B (2007) Strategies in caring for women with postpartum psychosis—an interview study with psychiatric nurses. J Clin Nurs 16(7):1333–42

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Engqvist I, Ferszt G, Ahlin A, Nilsson K (2009) Psychiatric nurses’ descriptions of women with postpartum psychosis and nurses’ responses—an exploratory study in Sweden. Issues in Mental Health Nursing 30:23–30

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Faulkner A, Thomas P (2002) User-led research and evidence-based medicine. Br J Psychiatry 180:1–3

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Faulkner A (2000) Strategies for living: A report of user-led research into people’s strategies for living well with mental distress. Mental Health Foundation, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Heron J, McGuinness M, Blackmore ER, Craddock N, Jones I (2008) Early postpartum symptoms in puerperal psychosis. Bjog 115(3):348–53

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jones I, Craddock N (2005) Bipolar disorder and childbirth: the importance of recognising risk. Br J Psychiatry 186:453–4

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kendell RE, Chalmers JC, Platz C (1987) Epidemiology of puerperal psychoses. Br J Psychiatry 150:662–673

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lewis GE (2007) Saving Mothers’ Lives - 2003–2005, in The Seventh Report of the Confidential Enquiries into Maternal Deaths in the United Kingdom. CEMACH: London

  • McGlashan T (1987) Recovery style from mental illness and long term outcome. J Nerv Ment Dis 175(11):681–5

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pitt L, Kilbride M, Nothard S, Welford M, Morrison A (2007) Researching recovery from psychosis: a user-led project. Psychiatr Bull 31:55–60

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Robertson E, Lyons A (2003) Living with puerperal psychosis: a qualitative analysis. Psychol Psychother 76(Pt 4):411–31

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Silverman D (2006) Interpreting qualitative data: methods for analyzing talk, text, and interaction. Sage Publications Ltd., London

    Google Scholar 

  • Sit D, Rothschild AJ, Wisner KL (2006) A review of postpartum psychosis. J Womens Health (Larchmt) 15(4):352–68

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Spinelli MG (2004) Maternal infanticide associated with mental illness: prevention and the promise of saved lives. Am J Psychiatry 161(9):1548–1557

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Staley K (2009) Exploring impact: public involvement in NHS, public health and social care research. INVOLVE, Eastleigh. URL: http://www.invo.org.uk/pdfs/Involve_Exploring_Impactfinal28.10.09.pdf

  • Tait L, Birchwood M, Trower P (2003) Predicting engagement with services for psychosis: insight, symptoms and recovery style. Br J Psychiatry 182:123–128

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Thornicroft G, Tansella M (2005) Growing recognition of the importance of service user involvement in mental health service planning and evaluation. Epidemiologia e Psichiatria Sociale 14(1):1–3

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Trivedi P, Wykes T (2002) From passive subjects to equal partners: qualitative review of user involvement in research. Br J Psychiatry 181:468–472

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Lucy Vernall from IdeasLab for working with the participants to make a You Tube film and the Centre for Excellence in Interdisciplinary Mental Health and Professor Ann Davis for hosting and helping to organise the workshop. This project was funded by the MHRN Heart of England Hub, Birmingham & Solihull Mental Health Foundation Trust Charitable Funds Committee, The Royal College of General Practitioners Scientific Foundation Board, and the Centre for Excellence in Interdisciplinary Mental Health.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jessica Heron.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Heron, J., Gilbert, N., Dolman, C. et al. Information and support needs during recovery from postpartum psychosis. Arch Womens Ment Health 15, 155–165 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00737-012-0267-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00737-012-0267-1

Keywords

Navigation