Pre-Existing Serious Mental Illness in the Prenatal Period

Research output: Chapter in Book/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

Abstract

Of the women who experience a mental health condition during the perinatal period, women with a pre-existing serious mental illness (SMI) are at particularly high risk of postpartum relapse or developing a more severe condition, such as postpartum psychosis. As well as psychological risk factors, women with pre-existing SMIs are susceptible to obstetric complications, including preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, and emergency cesarean sections, and they are also more at risk of adverse infant outcomes, such as preterm birth and low birth weight. Women with pre-existing SMIs may also adopt certain lifestyle factors that amplify these risks, such as smoking. The following chapter provides an overview of the consequences associated with pre-existing SMI, as well as considerations in terms of assessment, culture, familial relationships, and psychological and/or pharmacological treatments during the prenatal period.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationThe Routledge International Handbook of Perinatal Mental Health Disorders
EditorsAmy Wenzel
Place of PublicationAbingdon
PublisherRoutledge
Chapter11
Number of pages16
ISBN (Electronic)9781003206903
ISBN (Print)9781032074320
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 21 Aug 2024

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