Overview
Postpartum psychosis (also called puerperal psychosis or postnatal psychosis) is a serious but treatable mental health emergency that can occur after giving birth. It is one of the most severe psychiatric conditions linked to childbirth. Unlike the 'baby blues,' which are mild and short-lived, postpartum psychosis involves a sudden and dramatic change in a new mother's thoughts, feelings, and behavior — usually appearing within the first two weeks after delivery, and often within the first 48 to 72 hours. The condition affects the brain in ways that can cause a person to lose touch with reality. This can include hearing or seeing things that are not there, holding beliefs that are not true, extreme mood swings, confusion, and very little need for sleep. The exact cause is not fully understood, but it is thought to involve a combination of sudden hormonal changes after birth, genetic vulnerability, and disruptions to sleep and brain chemistry. The good news is that postpartum psychosis responds well to treatment when caught early. Most people recover fully with the right care, which usually includes hospitalization, medication, and support. Early recognition is critical because the condition can put both the mother and baby at risk if left untreated. Women with a personal or family history of bipolar disorder or a previous episode of postpartum psychosis are at higher risk.
Also known as:
Key symptoms:
Seeing or hearing things that are not real (hallucinations)Believing things that are not true, such as thinking the baby is in danger or has special powers (delusions)Extreme and rapid mood swings — feeling very high and energetic one moment, deeply depressed the nextSevere confusion or disorientation — not knowing where you are or what day it isVery little need for sleep without feeling tiredTalking very fast or in a way that does not make senseFeeling suspicious or paranoid about people around youBehaving in ways that are very out of characterDifficulty recognizing family members or close friendsFeeling detached from your baby or from realityThoughts of harming yourself or your babyAgitation or restlessness that is hard to controlInability to care for yourself or your newborn
Multifactorial
Caused by a mix of several genes and environmental factors
Adult
Begins in adulthood (age 18 or older)
FDA & Trial Timeline
3 eventsUniversity of Colorado, Denver — NA
King's College London
University of Liverpool
Data sourced from FDA regulatory filings and ClinicalTrials.gov. Updated periodically.
Treatments
No FDA-approved treatments are currently listed for Postpartum psychosis.
1 clinical trialare actively recruiting — trials can provide access to cutting-edge therapies.
View clinical trials →Treatment Centers
8 centersBaylor College of Medicine Rare Disease Center ↗
Baylor College of Medicine
📍 Houston, TX
🏥 NORDStanford Medicine Rare Disease Center ↗
Stanford Medicine
📍 Stanford, CA
🔬 UDNNIH Clinical Center Undiagnosed Diseases Program ↗
National Institutes of Health
📍 Bethesda, MD
🔬 UDNUCLA UDN Clinical Site ↗
UCLA Health
📍 Los Angeles, CA
🔬 UDNBaylor College of Medicine UDN Clinical Site ↗
Baylor College of Medicine
📍 Houston, TX
🔬 UDNHarvard/MGH UDN Clinical Site ↗
Massachusetts General Hospital
📍 Boston, MA
🏥 NORDMayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine ↗
Mayo Clinic
📍 Rochester, MN
👤 Mayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine
🏥 NORDUCLA Rare Disease Day Program ↗
UCLA Health
📍 Los Angeles, CA
Travel Grants
No travel grants are currently matched to Postpartum psychosis.
Community
No community posts yet. Be the first to share your experience with Postpartum psychosis.
Start the conversation →Latest news about Postpartum psychosis
Disease timeline:
New recruiting trial: Integrated Mental Health Care for Pregnant Women With HIV in Kenya: The Tunawiri Study
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Postpartum psychosis
New recruiting trial: Long-acting Injectable Antipsychotics for Mental Ill-Health in Pregnancy and Postpartum
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Postpartum psychosis
Caregiver Resources
NORD Caregiver Resources
Support, advocacy, and financial assistance for caregivers of rare disease patients.
Mental Health Support
Rare disease caregiving can be isolating. Connect with counseling and peer support.
Family & Caregiver Grants
Financial assistance programs specifically for caregivers of rare disease patients.
Social Security Disability
Learn how rare disease patients may qualify for SSDI/SSI benefits.
Questions for your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment
- Q1.What is my risk of having another episode of postpartum psychosis if I have more children, and how can we plan ahead?,Which medications are safe for me to take while breastfeeding?,How long will I need to stay on medication, and what happens if I want to stop?,What are the early warning signs that I or my family should watch for that might mean I am getting unwell again?,Is there a mother-and-baby unit available so I do not have to be separated from my baby during treatment?,Do I have an underlying condition like bipolar disorder that needs long-term management?,What support services are available for me and my family during and after recovery?
Common questions about Postpartum psychosis
What is Postpartum psychosis?
Postpartum psychosis (also called puerperal psychosis or postnatal psychosis) is a serious but treatable mental health emergency that can occur after giving birth. It is one of the most severe psychiatric conditions linked to childbirth. Unlike the 'baby blues,' which are mild and short-lived, postpartum psychosis involves a sudden and dramatic change in a new mother's thoughts, feelings, and behavior — usually appearing within the first two weeks after delivery, and often within the first 48 to 72 hours. The condition affects the brain in ways that can cause a person to lose touch with reali
How is Postpartum psychosis inherited?
Postpartum psychosis follows a multifactorial inheritance pattern. Genetic counseling can help families understand recurrence risk and testing options.
At what age does Postpartum psychosis typically begin?
Typical onset of Postpartum psychosis is adult. Age of onset can vary across affected individuals.
Are there clinical trials for Postpartum psychosis?
Yes — 1 recruiting clinical trial is currently listed for Postpartum psychosis on UniteRare. See the clinical trials section on this page for phase, sponsor, and site details sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov.
Which specialists treat Postpartum psychosis?
10 specialists and care centers treating Postpartum psychosis are listed on UniteRare, sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov principal investigators, published research, and the NPPES NPI registry.