Psychosis, Breaking The Cycle?

[rahab]

fifteen-odd years ago I had a bad time with puerperal psychosis, and at the time I was given to understand there were hereditary and biochemical factors as well as social things involved in likeliehood, and that the recurrence rate was about, well 50% was the figure i was finding.

I wonder, has there been any progress in the meantime about prevention or early intervention/treatment, and whether there's been any work with teens to intervene with any social factors to reduce the risk? my teen is thinking like she would like kids some day and i'm going Nooooooo!!! on the inside although I have enough sense not to say so out loud.

any advice welcome!

[emmajane]

hi nothing sounds like it has changed since fifteen years ago they are still saying the same thing that its hereditary and it is to do with a hormone or chemical in balance and not to have anymore children after you have suffered this illness but they actually do not know 100% what causes this illness so its quite shocking to see that after 15years they are still saying the same old medical jargoon when will this people actually do test to see what causes this illness if it was anyrhing eles they would be running around looking for answers but because this illness is so rare (we are talking 1 in 1000 births women suffer pp) they dont bother hope you can find some answers if you do then let me know as any info will be good to know

[Chris]

hi, I has pp 6 years ago. 15 months later i had my son had no reoccurences and all is fine. As for it being hereditary (sp) i'm not too sure about as far as i know my mum didn't get it. the doctors told my family pretty much the same about it being a hormone/ chemical inbalance so is probably right.

[Frankie]

Chris
Thats good to know as I'm preg with no 2 now after having PP nearly 3 years ago 1st time round.
I am being very well looked after and taking part in a study to help future sufferers.
Only time will tell.
Frankie