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Bipolar disorder

International Experts Recommend Classification of Postpartum Psychosis as a Distinct Mental Illness

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The international panel of experts on women's mental health recommends that postpartum psychosis be recognized as a distinct category of mental illness, classifying it accordingly within standardized medical coding systems. This recommendation, encapsulated in a consensus statement and comprehensive review of the scientific literature, appears in the October 22 issue of Biological Psychiatry. Postpartum psychosis is an acute and severe psychiatric illness that occurs within weeks after delivery, characterized by severe mood symptoms, impaired cognition, and high risks of suicide and infanticide.

Key Takeaways:

  • Postpartum psychosis is an acute and severe psychiatric illness that sets in within weeks after delivery, characterized by severe mood symptoms, impaired cognition, and high risks of suicide and infanticide.
  • The condition is not recognized in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-5) or the International Classification of Disease (ICD), despite being one of the most distinct clinical phenotypes in psychiatry.
  • The panel recommends that postpartum psychosis be classified as a distinct mental illness within the bipolar disorders chapter of the DSM and ICD.
  • The proposed diagnosis of postpartum psychosis can be applied in addition to other mental illnesses or as a first-onset diagnosis for patients without a psychiatric history.
  • The panel has been working with the American Psychiatric Association and the DSM steering committee since 2020 to find a solution that will facilitate diagnostic accuracy and the provision of timely and evidence-based treatment.
  • The Mount Sinai Health System, led by Veerle Bergink, MD, PhD, has been committed to this work and is dedicated to improving patient outcomes and preventing tragic outcomes of suicide and infanticide.

Statistics:

  • Postpartum psychosis is associated with high risks of suicide and infanticide if left untreated.
  • The condition has a unique risk architecture, partly shared with, but distinct from bipolar disorder.
  • The epidemiologic studies show an enormous peak in incidence and prevalence of postpartum psychosis.
  • The proposed classification of postpartum psychosis as a distinct mental illness aims to improve diagnostic accuracy and provision of timely and evidence-based treatment.
  • The Mount Sinai Health System includes approximately 9,000 primary and specialty care physicians and 10 free-standing joint-venture centers throughout the five boroughs of New York City, Westchester, Long Island, and Florida.

Sources:

  • DOI: /10.1016/j.biopsych.2025.10.016
  • https://www.mountsinai.org (Mount Sinai Health System website)
  • NewsWeek's "The World's Best Smart Hospitals, Best in State Hospitals, World Best Hospitals and Best Specialty Hospitals"
  • U.S. News & World Report's "Best Hospitals" and "Best Children's Hospitals"

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