Perinatal Mental Health

Dr Cressida ManningConsultant Perinatal PsychiatristFlorence House Mother and Baby

Unit

Contents of Presentation

Confidential Enquiry into maternal deaths. Risks of untreated illness. Risk factors for postnatal depression and psychosis. Discussions around treatment. Medication.

Recent Case Study

Felicia Boots. 35 Mother of 2 ( 14 months and 10 weeks). Manslaughter on grounds of diminished responsibility. Stopped medication as breastfeeding.

Confidential Enquiry

Centre for Maternal and Child Enquiries (CMACE) Most recent report ‘Saving Mothers Lives’ (2011) 2006-2008 29 suicides 1st 6 months 19 past psychiatric history 9 identified of which 4 had care plan

Saving Mothers Lives

38% Psychosis 21% Severe Depressive Illness

Recommendations - Back to Basics 1Saving Mothers Lives Anxiety or depression

Review in 2 weeks Consider psych referral if symptoms persist Refer urgently where:

Suicidal ideation, uncharacteristic symptoms/marked change from normal functioning, morbid fears, profound low mood, personal or family history of serious affective disorder, mental health deterioration, morbid fears, panic attacks and intrusive obsessional thoughts.

Effects of Untreated Illness

Increased morbidity. Increased risks towards self and others.

Links between maternal anxiety and fetal behaviour and heart rate

Stress/anxiety during pregnancy can have long term effects on child

Associated with an increased incidence of: Emotional problems - Anxiety/depression Behavioural problems – ADHD, conduct disorder Impaired cognitive development, esp language Sleep problems in infants

Sensitive early mothering important as what happens in utero for child outcome

Effects of antenatal and postnatal depression Children of mothers depressed in perinatal period compared to

children of well mothers: Lower IQ scores 12x more likely to have a statement of special needs elevated risk of violence at 11 and 16 years More likely to suffer separation anxiety at 11 and a diagnosis of

depression at 16

Suicide

Majority of deaths secondary to postpartum psychosis or very severe depressive illness

Oates (2008) Suicide rate for ppp 2/1000 Common profile; white, older, 2nd or subsequent

pregnancy, married, comfortable circumstances Likely to die violently

Infanticide

Similar profile 1/3rd mental illness Death extended suicide or occasionally altruistic

based on delusional belief Highest concern if delusion involves child e.g baby

changed, not hers, possessed, evil.

Postpartum Psychosis

1st few weeks highest risk Heron et al (2007) Greater than 80%

1st week Link with BPAD

Bipolar Disorder

52% relapse in 1st 40 weeks after stopping treatment

If pregnant and stable on antipsychotic and likely to relapse without medication continue

Up to 70% relapse if untreated in postnatal period 50% psychotic symptoms day 1 - 3

Postpartum Psychosis – Risk Factors 1st Baby Single C- Section Older Fertility Problems Previous episode – 1 in 7 Sleep Loss

Warning Signs

Early signs often non specific Insomnia, agitation/anxious, perplexed and odd

behaviour. Risk overlooked

Can lead to rapid deterioration to Psychotic symptoms

Postnatal Depression

10 -15% Severe 3% 1/3 to ½ continuation of antenatal anxiety and

depression Onset few days to 6 months Increased risk in subsequent pregnancies – approx

25 – 50%

Postnatal Depression – Risk Factors Antenatal anxiety or depression Past history of psychiatric illness Life events Lack of or perceived lack of support Low income Domestic violence FH of psychiatric illness Childhood abuse

Risk Factors cont…

Obstetric factors Sleep deprivation Infant factors –irritability Personality factors – control, interpersonal

sensitivity, ‘neuroticism’ Biological factors – inconsistent results

Early Detection

1st contact;

Past or present mental illness

Previous psychiatric input, including admissions

Family history of severe mental illness

Treatment of pregnant and breast feeding women- NICE guidelines

Importance of balancing risks and benefits Cautious Women requiring psychological treatment should be seen for

treatment within 1 month of assessment and no longer than 3 months.

NICE

Discussion should include: Risk of relapse and not treating disorder Woman’s ability to cope with untreated symptoms Severity of previous episodes and response to treatment Woman’s preference Possibility that stopping drug with teratogenic risk once pregnancy

confirmed may not remove risk

NICE

Risks of stopping medication abruptly Need for prompt treatment due to impact of illness on foetus/child Increased risk of harm of specific drug treatments Treatment option that would allow mother to breastfeed

NICE

Prescribing: Drugs with lowest risk profile Lowest effective dose Monotherapy Risks lower threshold for psychological treatmentImportant to put risks from drug treatment in context of the individual

woman’s illness

Antidepressants

SSRIs Paroxetine in 1st trimester increase in cardiac malformations (VSD) – planning pregnancy or unplanned advise to stop. Other SSRIs now implicated.

SSRI’s taken after 20 weeks may be associated with an increased risk of persistent pulmonary hypertension of the new born Neonatal withdrawal- normally mild and self limiting

Symptoms include; Irritability Hypertonia Jitteriness Difficulties feeding Tremor Agitation Seizures Tachypnoea Posturing

Tricyclics

Tricyclics have lower known risks during pregnancy than other antidepressants

Have higher fatal toxicity index CHD with clomipramine Withdrawal symptoms No effects on long term neurodevelopmental outcomes Imipramine

Other antidepressants

Venlafaxine – Conflicting results for congenital malformations – data too limited to say safe. Possible increased neonatal withdrawal and increased risk of high blood pressure at higher doses. Theoretical risk of PPHN

Mirtazapine – Possible association with increased rate of spontaneous abortion. No evidence to link to congenital malformations but data too limited to say safe.

JAMA 13 – Metaanalysis – preterm birth 3 days - Apgar <0.5 - Weight 75g - Spontaneous abortion not significant.

Benzodiazepines Raised risk of oral cleft (7 in 1000; x10) Withdrawal syndrome – jitteriness, autonomic dysregulation, seizure,

floppy baby syndrome Consider gradually stopping in women who are pregnant Short term use only for severe agitation and anxiety

Lithium – Ebsteins anomoly (1 in 1000) General population 1 in 20000

Overall risk CHD 0.9-12% vs 0.5-1% general population. Floppy baby syndrome, thyroid dysfunction, nephrogenic diabetes

insipidus. High quantities in breast milk.

Valproate NTD 100 to 200 in 10000 IUGR Facial dysmorphias Low IQ

Do not routinely prescribe to women of child bearing age. If no option adequate contraception Discontinue if pregnant

Carbamazepinne Increased risk congenital malformations -6.7% v 2.3% Craniofacial, GIT, cardiac, urinary tract and digit anomalies Advice as valproate

Lamotrigine Cleft palate 8.9/1000

Atypical Antipsychotics

Olanzapine and Quetiapine Limited data to base assessment of safety in

pregnancy, but available data does not suggest a substantially increased risk of congenital malformations or spontaneous abortions

No pattern of malformations observed. Withdrawal symptoms Olanzapine – increased birth weight

What Clinicians need to do

Do not assume it is always better to stop medication Provide prompt and Effective treatment of mental illness in

pregnancy and postnatal period Understand, consider and communicate known risks (and how

these will be managed) of medication Complete risk benefit analysis for individual patient.