Postpartum Psychosis with Comorbid Anxiety and the Impact of Life Events: A Case Report

Abstract

This case study presents a 31-year-old female patient exhibiting symptoms consistent with postpartum psychosis, complicated by anxiety features. Following the caesarean delivery of her first child, the patient, a housewife with a postgraduate degree, had an extreme flare-up of her symptoms. Among the most notable symptoms were hyperactivity, suspicion, verbal and physical violence, repeated behaviours, and social anxiety that was exclusive to family relationships. According to the patient’s medical history, she had mental health issues after a 2018 divorce that partially resolved throughout her pregnancy. The current episode, which started five days after giving birth, had a sub-acute beginning and progressed over time. A mental status evaluation revealed poor social judgment, persecutory delusions, fidgeting, and limited emotion. This instance emphasizes the intricate relationship between life events, hormonal changes, and mental health, underscoring the necessity of thorough evaluation and customized therapies in postpartum mental health care.