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A cautionary note on the use of antidepressants in postpartum depression
Author(s) -
Sharma Verinder
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
bipolar disorders
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.285
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1399-5618
pISSN - 1398-5647
DOI - 10.1111/j.1399-5618.2006.00336.x
Subject(s) - discontinuation , postpartum psychosis , psychiatry , depression (economics) , bipolar disorder , antidepressant , quetiapine , family history , medicine , mood , postpartum depression , pediatrics , psychiatric history , psychology , pregnancy , schizophrenia (object oriented programming) , epilepsy , anxiety , genetics , biology , economics , macroeconomics
Objectives: This paper discusses the effect of antidepressant use on the illness course in three women who were treated for first‐onset postpartum depression (PPD) following childbirth. Methods: A report of three cases of early‐onset PPD in which bipolarity manifested following antidepressant treatment. Results: There was no past history of psychiatric disturbance but in each case there was a family history of bipolar (BP) disorder. Treatment with antidepressants resulted in a highly unstable illness course characterized by a mixed episode, cycle acceleration, and a postpartum psychosis. However, discontinuation of antidepressants and institution of treatment with mood stabilizers and atypical neuroleptics resulted in sustained improvement and symptom remission. Conclusions: Caution is urged in the use of antidepressants to treat early‐onset PPD in women at risk for developing BP disorder due to a family history of bipolar illness.