Associated symptoms and properties
- Prevalence: 1-2 per 1000 births
- Clinical onset is rapid mostly in first 2 weeks post partum
- Severe disorder with potentially tragic outcomes: associated with suicide and infanticide 1-3 per 50,000 births
- Recurrence of preexisting bipolar disorder or schizophrenia or may be a new onset
- Higher chance when preexisting psychotic disorder
- Usually requires inpatient stay and medication antipsychotic and mood stabilisers
Symptoms
- Extreme agitation
- Paranoia, confusion, disorientation
- Inability to sleep or eat
- Losing touch with reality
- Delusions
- Hallucinations
- Disorganized behaviour
- Psychomotor agitation
- Incoherent speech and agiation
- Especially extreme sleep disruption