Impacto pronóstico del posparto en una muestra de pacientes ingresadas en la unidad madre-bebé de Burdeos (Francia)

The postpartum period, however, is associated with a high risk of acute breakdown in patients with bipolar and schizoaffective disorders. Follow-up studies of patients with a history of postpartum psychotic episodes have indicated that these episodes should not be considered as independent entities specific to the postpartum period but rather as episodes occurring within the course of an existing disorder, usually bipolar disorder. The results of our study agree with these conclusions. The literature on the long-term impact of maternity on the mental health of patients with psychotic and bipolar disorders stresses specific parenting difficulties in this population. However, evaluating the repercussions of maternity on the course of these disorders is difficult. Both data in the literature and the results of the present study show that patients who became mothers need more psychiatric care, but that this does not always reflect an aggravation of their disorders.