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Puerperal Affective Psychosis: is There a Case for Lithium Prophylaxis?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

M-P. V. Austin
M-P. V. Austin*
Affiliation:
University of NSW and Staff Specialist, Mood Disorder Unit, Prince Henry Hospital, Little Bay, NSW 2036, Australia; formerly Clinical Research Fellow, MRC Brian Brain Metabolism Unit, Royal Edinburgh Hospital, Edinburgh
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Abstract

It is well known that women with a history of manic-depressive or puerperal affective psychosis are at particularly high risk of relapse in the puerperium. This paper describes the use of lithium given during or after pregnancy to women with a history of bipolar illness or puerperal affective psychosis. The rate of puerperal relapse in these subjects was compared with that in a similar group of women not on lithium. The significantly better outcome of the treatment group highlights the need for a prospective controlled trial looking at the effectiveness of lithium in minimising puerperal bipolar relapse.

Type
Brief Reports
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 161 , Issue 5 , November 1992 , pp. 692 - 694
Copyright
Copyright © 1992 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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