Bipolar disorder, affective psychosis, and schizophrenia in pregnancy and the post-partum period

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Summary
The perinatal period is associated with an increased risk of severe mental disorders. We summarise the evidence regarding the epidemiology, risk factors, and treatment of severe mental illness in relation to childbirth, focusing on bipolar disorder, affective psychosis, and schizophrenia. We discuss women with ongoing chronic conditions and those with the onset of new episodes of post-partum psychosis. Despite the importance of perinatal episodes, with suicide a leading cause of maternal death, few studies are available to guide the management of women with severe mental disorders in pregnancy and the post-partum period. However, general principles of management are discussed, including the need for an individual risk—benefit analysis for each woman.
This is the second in a Series of three papers about perinatal mental health.

http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(14)61278-2/fulltext#article_upsell

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Yes, post - partum psychosis is a big deal. Whenever I think of post - partum psychosis, I automatically think of
Andrea Yates

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Finally a study about this. I wonder how many of those women have to come off their antipsychotics because it’ll hurt the baby or be secreted in breastmilk? How many of them relapse? What is the best course of action?

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I talked with my previous social worker about this. She said that you just switch to a different medication. I would assume that if my Risperdal was working before, I would just get back on it. I wouldn’t breastfeed to make it easier.

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Is there any way to read this article without signing up on that website? I would very much like to read.

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The article was accessible by clicking on the link but seems now it isn’t. I am disappointed and sorry about that. Seems you have to be in the medical field to register as you need to state your work setting and speciality.
This is disappointing considering there was a big production made over the launch of Lancet psychiatry which said they welcomed the voice of service users.
If you can’t register to see articles and comment how can you have a voice?!
Personally I don’t think it helps the professional/service user relationship when things are accessible to professionals only or you have to pay through the nose to download a copy.
That’s why I support open access journals.
http://doaj.org/ (1)do an advanced search for psychiatry (2) open journals v articles and click on journals (3) scroll down under subject to psychiatry(83 journals)

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