[Postpartum psychoses. A case report]

The puerperal period is a critical one in the life of a woman, due to the numerous changes which occur at biological and psychological levels and also at the level of relationships. Various disturbances of a psychiatric nature may emerge during this period which represents a "risky" phase from a psycho-pathological point of view. Among some of these disturbances, so-called "puerperal psychoses", there is an uncertain nosographic connection. According to some authors, these psychoses could be distinct nosographic events, while others prefer to include them in psychotic disturbances which have already been classified. From this point of view the puerperal period would be a stressful event. Risk factors would be a first birth, previous psychotic puerperal episodes, inherited serious psychiatric disturbances and caesarean section. The therapy used in the case of such disturbances must take into account many aspects and implications which don't exclusively concern the new mother but which also look significantly at the newborn baby, and the patient's family circumstances. All this implies the necessity for a close collaboration between specialists in different medical areas (psychiatry and obstetrics). Particular attention should be given to the type of disturbed relationship which can occur between the mother and the new born child. The analysis of our case has stimulated many reflections from a clinical, therapeutic and prognostic point of view, and as a result we tent to agree with published material on the subject.