The impact of postpartum psychosis on partners
Abstract Background Postpartum Psychosis is a severe mental health condition following childbirth, with a psychosis and associated mood disturbance. Research to date has primarily focused on mothers’ experiences, and on identifying risk factors, aetiology, and intervention efficacy. Within both rese...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2018-10-01
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| Series: | BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12884-018-2055-z |
| _version_ | 1819326752838647808 |
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| author | Nia Holford Sue Channon Jessica Heron Ian Jones |
| author_facet | Nia Holford Sue Channon Jessica Heron Ian Jones |
| author_sort | Nia Holford |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Postpartum Psychosis is a severe mental health condition following childbirth, with a psychosis and associated mood disturbance. Research to date has primarily focused on mothers’ experiences, and on identifying risk factors, aetiology, and intervention efficacy. Within both research and clinical communities, there has been little acknowledgement of partners’ experiences of Postpartum Psychosis, nor the important support role that partners can provide. The aim of this study was to consider the lived experiences of partners of women who have had Postpartum Psychosis, and the impact that it has had on their lives and relationships. Methods Participants (N = 8) were partners recruited through the charity Action on Postpartum Psychosis. Partners completed an in-depth, semi-structured interview regarding their experiences of Postpartum Psychosis. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis was used to analyse the interview transcripts. Results Seven superordinate themes emerged from the interview data: loss; powerlessness; united vs. individual coping; hypothesising and hindsight; barriers to accessing care and unmet needs; managing multiple roles; and positive changes from Postpartum Psychosis. Conclusions These findings provide a rich illustration of the experiences of partners, including some previously unidentified findings relating to partner hypervigilance to signs of relapse and positive changes in their attitudes and relationships. Areas where support could be provided for partners are also highlighted. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-24T12:59:57Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-56364378ad224b34a925824fc964ba3b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2393 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-24T12:59:57Z |
| publishDate | 2018-10-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth |
| spelling | doaj.art-56364378ad224b34a925824fc964ba3b2022-12-21T16:54:11ZengBMCBMC Pregnancy and Childbirth1471-23932018-10-0118111010.1186/s12884-018-2055-zThe impact of postpartum psychosis on partnersNia Holford0Sue Channon1Jessica Heron2Ian Jones3South Wales Clinical Psychology Doctorate Programme, Cardiff UniversityCentre for Trials Research, Cardiff UniversityAction on Postpartum Psychosis, Department of Psychiatry, The Barberry National Centre for Mental Health, University of BirminghamNational Centre for Mental Health, Division of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences, MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, Cardiff UniversityAbstract Background Postpartum Psychosis is a severe mental health condition following childbirth, with a psychosis and associated mood disturbance. Research to date has primarily focused on mothers’ experiences, and on identifying risk factors, aetiology, and intervention efficacy. Within both research and clinical communities, there has been little acknowledgement of partners’ experiences of Postpartum Psychosis, nor the important support role that partners can provide. The aim of this study was to consider the lived experiences of partners of women who have had Postpartum Psychosis, and the impact that it has had on their lives and relationships. Methods Participants (N = 8) were partners recruited through the charity Action on Postpartum Psychosis. Partners completed an in-depth, semi-structured interview regarding their experiences of Postpartum Psychosis. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis was used to analyse the interview transcripts. Results Seven superordinate themes emerged from the interview data: loss; powerlessness; united vs. individual coping; hypothesising and hindsight; barriers to accessing care and unmet needs; managing multiple roles; and positive changes from Postpartum Psychosis. Conclusions These findings provide a rich illustration of the experiences of partners, including some previously unidentified findings relating to partner hypervigilance to signs of relapse and positive changes in their attitudes and relationships. Areas where support could be provided for partners are also highlighted.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12884-018-2055-zPostpartum PsychosisPartnersExperienceLossSupportRelationship |
| spellingShingle | Nia Holford Sue Channon Jessica Heron Ian Jones The impact of postpartum psychosis on partners BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth Postpartum Psychosis Partners Experience Loss Support Relationship |
| title | The impact of postpartum psychosis on partners |
| title_full | The impact of postpartum psychosis on partners |
| title_fullStr | The impact of postpartum psychosis on partners |
| title_full_unstemmed | The impact of postpartum psychosis on partners |
| title_short | The impact of postpartum psychosis on partners |
| title_sort | impact of postpartum psychosis on partners |
| topic | Postpartum Psychosis Partners Experience Loss Support Relationship |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12884-018-2055-z |
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