Postpartum Psychiatric Disorders May Predict Bipolar Disorder

A study has reported a link between postpartum psychosis in women within 2 weeks after childbirth and a future risk of developing bipolar disorder.¹

From a Denmark registry of 120,378 women seeking first-time treatment for a mental illness other than bipolar disorder, researchers found 3062 who were later diagnosed with it. Munk-Olsen and researchers found "a postpartum onset of symptoms within 0 to 14 days after delivery predicted subsequent conversion to bipolar disorder."¹

The findings, reported in the Archives of General Psychiatry, indicate that postpartum psychiatric illness may be an early marker for an underlying bipolar disorder.

The Bipolar Spectrum Diagnostic Scale (BSDS) is helpful in detecting not only severe cases of bipolar disorder but also patients who fall into the “softer” end of the spectrum. Click here for a mobile and interactive version of the BSDS.

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Reference1. Munk-Olsen T, Laursen TM; Meltzer-Brody S, et al. Post-partum psychiatric episodes associated with increased risk of developing bipolar affective disorder. Arch Gen Psychiatry. [archgenpsychiatry.2011.157v1-7]. http://pubs.ama-assn.org/media/2011a/1205.dtl#4. Accessed December 7, 2011.