Psychiatr. praxi. 2013;14(4):161-163

Mental health during pregnancy and after childbirth

MUDr.Ľubomíra Izáková, PhD.

Psychiatrická klinika LF UK a UNB, Bratislava

Pregnancy and postpartum period represent during a woman‘s life, in terms of manifestations of mental disorders, risk period. The most

commonly occurring disorders include tocofobia, postpartum blues, postpartum, respectively perinatal depression and postpartum

psychosis. Etiology could also be considered as the first manifestation of endogenous mental disorder or a relapse/decompensation of

existing endogenous mental disorder. Despite the fact that a woman at that time regularly visit the doctors, mental disturbances often

remain undiagnosed, which significantly reduces the quality of life of the mother, child and whole family, negatively influence the further

course of the disorder, and it is also risk factor for suicide. Pharmacotherapy during pregnancy and lactation has also its limitations, it is

always necessary to assess the benefit-risk ratio, but not only for the mother, but also for the developing child.

Keywords: pregnancy, postpartum mental disorders, perinatal depression, postpartum psychosis

Published: November 1, 2013  Show citation