POSTPARTUM PSYCHOSIS 

⇒DEFINITION:- 

Postpartum Psychosis is an acute mental disorder or a psychotic reaction occurring following childbirth or abortion. 

🔴Postnatal psychosis or puerperal psychosis is a psychological emergency. 

Postpartum Psychosis

⇒CLINICAL MANIFESTATION:-

1. Hallucinations – sensing falls, visions, smells or sounds which is not really present.
2. Delusions – It is basically a false belief
3. Mood changes such as mania or depression 
4. Depersonalization (some people describe this as an out of body experience) 
5. Disorganized thinking or behaviours
6. Insomnia – It is a sleeping disorder in this you may find yourself very hard to stay asleep
7. Self-harming – Women with this postpartum psychosis have this type of intention to harm themself. She might commit suicide or may try to kill their child.

⇒ETIOLOGY:-

1. History of Mental Illness – If the patient has any past history of other mental illness.
2. Schizophrenia 
3. Bipolar Disorder
4. Number of pregnancies
5. family history of mental health condition – If any other family members have any kind of psychotic disorder then the pregnant mother also has a chance to get this mental problem.
6. Sleep deprivation
7. Hormone changes – hormonal disbalances due to pregnancy can also be the causes of postpartum psychosis.
8. Other medical conditions
9. Post pregnancy stress can affect mothers mental health

⇒Diagnostic Evaluation:-

• History Collection
• Physical Examination
• Blood Test
• Urine and other body fluid test
• Mental Status Examination Test
• Imaging Tests

                ⇾CT Scan
                ⇾MRI

⇒Treatment:-

▲Medication

Antipsychotic

Mood stabilizers

Antiseizure drug

Lithium

▲Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)

It is the therapy in which electrical shock is provided to the patient in a very low amount and for very short time only.

⬛ With these proper nursing care is very important to totally cure the mental health problems.