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The risks for women with bipolar disorder

The risks for women with bipolar disorder. postpartum psychosis occurs in 25% or 1 in 4 births after Postnatal depression follows another 25% therefore about 50% or 1 in 2 women with bipolar stay well after having a baby and about 50% are likely to have an episode of illness

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The risks for women with bipolar disorder

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  1. The risks for women with bipolar disorder • postpartum psychosis occurs in 25% or 1 in 4 births after • Postnatal depression follows another 25% • therefore about 50% or 1 in 2 women with bipolar stay well after • having a baby and about 50% are likely to have an episode of illness • 2 groups of women are at even higher risk: • those who have had a postpartum episode before and • those with close relative who has suffered a postpartum psychosis

  2. What is Postpartum Psychosis? • Can include manic or depressive symptoms or very often a mixture of both • symptoms include: • rapid changes in mood • restlessness and agitation • inability to sleep • unusual behaviour, losing your inhibitions • feeling anxious, irritable, suspicious or paranoid • delusions – odd thoughts or beliefs that are unlikely to be true • hallucinations – seeing, hearing or feeling things that aren’t really there Symptoms usually start within days of the birth, whereas postnatal depression may start up to 6 months following the birth

  3. BBC Radio 4 Documentary: ‘Unravelling Eve’ Listen on the APP site Home page www.app-network.org Unravelling Eve is a Radio 4 documentary about a project funded by the WellcomeTrustwhich explores postpartum psychosis with Prof. Ian Jones and others, including a group of women who have experienced the illness and who talk openly about their journey back to recovery.

  4. What are the causes of these postpartum episodes of illness? Why research is important

  5. Causes of Postpartum Psychosis • Unclear: we don’t know why bipolar disorder is so associated with postpartum psychosis, though • we know there is a geneticcomponent • we know there are ‘triggers’ for the illness • Likely that the massive changes in hormone levels that occur after birth are a significant reason • the sleep disturbance that inevitably comes with a new baby • the fact that many women stop or change medicationto breastfeed

  6. Bipolar disorder, Pregnancy and Childbirth Having a baby is a major event in the life of any woman. For those with bipolar disorder (manic depression) there are a number of additional issues. Women with bipolar disorder and their families have many questions but can find it difficult to get the answers they need. There are many questions including: Will having a baby mean I will become ill? Will my children develop bipolar disorder? What effects will the medication I am taking have on my baby? In this leaflet we will pose and attempt to answer some of the more common questions asked by women with bipolar disorder considering having a baby. Each woman’s experience and circumstances are unique. It is not possible to give answers that will apply to every woman – rather we will raise some of the important issues and emphasise the importance of discussing them with both professionals involved in your care and with key people in your life like your partner and family. First of all, despite the important issues discussed in this leaflet, we do not want to give the impression that women with bipolar disorder should avoid having children. Many such women are very glad that they have had a family and make excellent mothers. Indeed the majority of women with bipolar disorder thinking of starting a family, when presented with all the relevant information, make the decision to try for a baby. What should I do if I am thinking of trying for a baby? Ideally, it is best to discuss your thoughts about getting pregnant with your GP and psychiatric team before trying for a baby. Some psychiatrists and other mental health workers have a special interest in psychiatric illness and childbirth (sometimes called Perinatal Psychiatry). In the UK there are a number of excellent Perinatal Mental Health teams but unfortunately most areas are not covered.

  7. www.app-network.org Accurate up to date information Personal stories of recovery Online forum for peer support Videos, podcasts, signposting Information on latest research and services

  8. Run by researchers and women recovered from Postpartum Psychosis

  9. PP is rare but not that rare • Around 1400 cases occur each year in the UK • An average size maternity unit would see 8-10 cases of rapid onset psychosis following childbirth in a year • Episodes of severe mental illness such as mania or psychosis follow 1-2 in 1000 deliveries

  10. APP’s aims: • To raise awareness of the condition among health professionals and the general public • To provide up to date information to women who have experienced PP and their families • To support those women and families via our online forum and peer support programmes • To facilitate research into all aspects of PP

  11. www.bipolaruk.org.uk 020 7931 6480 twitter.com/bipolaruk facebook.com/bipolaruk www.app-network.org 020 33229900 twitter.com/ActionOnPP www.facebook.com/ActionOnPP

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