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Chapter 13 - Perinatal Psychiatry

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 January 2024

By
Sarah Jones ,
Aaron McMeekin ,
Ipshita Mukherjee  and
Laura Murphy
Edited by
Rachel Thomasson ,
Elspeth Guthrie  and
Allan House
Rachel Thomasson
Affiliation:
Manchester Centre for Clinical Neurosciences
Elspeth Guthrie
Affiliation:
Leeds Institute of Health Sciences
Allan House
Affiliation:
Leeds Institute of Health Sciences
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Summary

Perinatal mental illnesses are common and carry significant morbidity for the mother and infant, the family and wider society. Suicide remains a leading cause of maternal death. Pregnancy, childbirth and the transition into parenthood presents a unique life stage where a combination of physical, biological and psychological stressors can leave many women vulnerable to developing perinatal mental illness. This is a time where individuals often reflect on their own experiences of parenting and early life trauma can be reactivated. In addition, there is now consistent evidence that perinatal mental illness is not confined to maternal mental health problems. Approximately 10% of fathers experience postnatal depression and a recent study by the National Childbirth Trust has shown that 38% of all first-time fathers are concerned about their mental health.

The perinatal period is a time in a family’s life when they are in contact with many health professionals.

Keywords

pregnancychildbirthperinatal
Type
Chapter
Information
Seminars in Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry , pp. 210 - 231
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2024

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