THE CLINICAL-FEATURES OF POSTPARTUM PSYCHOSES

The clinical features and symptoms of postpartum psychoses are present ed in relation to the classification according to the Research Diagnos tic Criteria (RDC) and the concept of ''puerperal psychosis''. A numbe r of symptoms, ie confusional symptoms, depersonalization, misrecognit ions and the ''kaleidoscopic'' picture are shown to be prominent featu res. In schizoaffective disorder and unspecified functional psychosis a higher frequency of confusional symptoms, misrecognitions, thematic delusions and a ''kaleidoscopic'' course of illness was found compared to schizophrenia, mania or depression. The findings of this study sup port a special status for postpartum psychosis and suggest a link with the concept of cycloid psychosis. In the management of postpartum men tal disorder the risk of child-directed aggression, suicide and sudden relapses into psychosis requires special attention.