Clues which point toward the etiology of postpartum psychiatric illness and its appropriate treatment are spread over four continents and 150 years of history. James Alexander Hamilton and Patricia Neel Harberger decided that it was time to assemble the bits and pieces of information. Postpartum Psychiatric Illness: A Picture Puzzle is an exceptional work that presents a wealth of research and treatment considerations in this neglected field.

A panel of top experts in perinatal psychiatry reviews the many recent studies on the use of psychiatric medications in pregnancy and postpartum and assesses their impact on the diagnosis and treatment of pregnant/postpartum women. The authors focus on each of the major psychiatric illnesses, including depression, anxiety disorder, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, substance abuse, eating disorders, and mental illness, as well as on the potential impact of these illnesses on infants and children. Interpreting conflicting and inconclusive clinical findings, they spell out the lesser-known risks of prenatal medication exposure and illuminate a variety of issues that must be taken into account in choosing such treatments as medications, psychotherapy, parental education, and social skills training.

The present volume deals with the illness nowadays known as Postpartum Depression (PPD). The book was written by Dr. James Alexander Hamilton, a California psychiatrist who in 1980 founded the Marcé Society; its aim was to bring together psychiatrists, endocrinologists and social scientists to foster communication about PPD, which directly aligned with Dr. Hamilton’s goal, since 1955, to encourage physicians in the United States to better understand PPD in order to help victims of the illness. “Psychiatric illness which develops after childbirth is one of the most challenging problems of modern medicine. It usually occurs acutely and unexpectedly from a state of apparent good health. The patient is disabled at precisely the moment when her responsibilities and her capacity for enjoyment of life are greatest. Successful treatment of this kind of illness is most rewarding. “This book represents a collection and integration of widely scattered information which bears on the diagnosis and treatment of postpartum psychiatric problems. Some of this information relates to neglected physiological factors in these problems.”—Dr. James Alexander Hamilton

Every year nearly 400,000 women—approximately 15% of all new mothers—face postpartum disorders. Postpartum depression is the most common complication of pregnancy, yet few understand it or are prepared to deal with it. This book examines the causes of treatment for postpartum depression. Topics covered include: The Unexpected and the Unknown, The Roller Coaster of Postpartum Blues, Postpartum Anxiety Disorders, The Spectrum of Pospartum Depression, Navigating the Mental Health System, Understanding the Use of Medication, For Fathers and Families, and Looking Ahead.

Mood and Anxiety Disorders During Pregnancy and Postpartum earns its important place in the literature by detailing our current understanding of the course, diagnosis, and treatment of psychiatric illness during pregnancy and postpartum, including breast-feeding -- a top priority today because we now know that active maternal psychiatric illness during pregnancy and postpartum can exert long-term negative effects on child development and cause significant morbidity for the mother. In just five concise richly informative chapters, the nine distinguished contributors to Mood and Anxiety Disorders During Pregnancy and Postpartum dispel prevailing beliefs and offer invaluable guidance in treating women during pregnancy and postpartum: Course of Psychiatric Illness During Pregnancy and the Postpartum Period -- Despite the enduring belief that pregnancy is a time of emotional well-being for women, emerging data show that pregnancy is instead a time of increased vulnerability to psychiatric illness. Diagnosis and Treatment of Mood and Anxiety Disorders During Pregnancy -- Though the use of psychotropic medications during pregnancy and postpartum raises concerns, the accumulating data support the use of certain SSRIs/tricyclic antidepressants, especially when balanced against the risk to both mother and child of depression during pregnancy. Management of Bipolar Disorder During Pregnancy and the Postpartum Period: Weighing the Risks and Benefits -- Although the onset of bipolar disorder (BP) tends to occur during women's reproductive years, surprisingly little is known about the impact of the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, postpartum, breast-feeding, and menopause on the course and treatment of bipolar disorder. Postpartum Mood Disorders -- Women experience a dramatic increase in their risk of developing severe psychiatric illness during postpartum for a full year after delivery. Often overlooked, postpartum disorders must be identified and treated as early as possible to reduce the mother's risk for recurrent and treatment-refractory illness and the child's risk for long-term development problems due to the detrimental effect of maternal depression. Use of Antidepressants and Mood Stabilizers in Breast-feeding Women -- This expanded clinical appraisal of the literature on antidepressant and mood stabilizer use in breast-feeding women shows that additional detailed pharmacokinetic investigations are urgently needed to enhance our understanding of nursing infant exposure and the role(s) of pharmacogenomics in determining infant exposure. Meticulously referenced and remarkably succinct, Mood and Anxiety Disorders During Pregnancy and Postpartum provides critical information about the course of illness during pregnancy and postpartum to help guide effective individualized treatment decisions-decisions that are ultimately based on the patient's wishes.

Many psychiatrists, obstetricians, primary care physicians, nurse practitioners, and other health care professionals have not been trained to adequately identify psychiatric disorders that present in postpartum women, and yet are often faced with patients expressing mental health symptoms that may lead to serious problems. Postpartum Mental Health Disorders: A Casebook offers brief, practical guidance on the recognition and management of postpartum mental health disorders, including depression, anxiety disorders, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), psychotic disorders, bipolar disorders, posttraumatic stress disorders, personality disorders and eating disorders. Written by experienced clinicians, chapters are organized into collections of case examples and are designed to provide at-a-glance information about diagnoses, treatment, and outcomes with advice on when to refer to a specialist. Each chapter also includes an assessment tool to assist with diagnosis and a list of risk factors for developing postpartum disorders. An appendix of screening questionnaires is provided at the end of the book.

Advocating for Women with Postpartum Mental Illness takes the reader into the world of one of the most misunderstood mental illnesses. Through this book, Feingold and Lewis humanize the mother’s experience and provide vital tools for mental health and legal professionals. Complete with case studies and the authors’ experiences in changing the law in their own state of Illinois, this book is a necessary resource for all.