Puerperal psychoses. Clinical diagnoses and relative risk of admission after parturition

: Previous studies have suggested that the risk of psychosis, especially affective psychosis, is greatly increased during the first 30 days following delivery. The aim of our study was to replicate these findings. Linking The Danish Medical Birth Register and The Danish Psychiatric Central Register from January Ist 1973 to December 31st 1993 has revealed 1253 admissions diagnosed as psychosis within 91 days after delivery. The admission rate following delivery was compared to the admission rate among non-puerperal women in the general, Danish female population. The relative risk of all admissions was only slightly increased, RR = 1.09 (CI, 1.03-1.16). The admission rate concerning first admissions was greatly increased, RR = 3.21 (CI, 2.96-3.49) whereas the admission rate concerning readmissions was reduced, RR = 0.66 (CI, 0.61-0.72. In conclusion, childbirth is a strong risk factor for first admission with psychosis, but the risk is less increased than previously assumed.