Topic:  Perinatal Bipolar Disorder and Postpartum Psychosis

This unit covers the epidemiology, etiology, pathophysiology, and treatment of bipolar affective illness in pregnancy and postpartum.  Self-study segments provide an overview of the illness as well as detailed information about the use of mood stabilizers and antispsychotics in pregnancy. Classroom activities include three separate case conferences focused on different time points in the peripartum – early and late pregnancy and postpartum (postpartum psychosis).  The media module covers postpartum psychosis and infanticide.

The recommended order of modules is:

Self-Study: Overview of BPAD Video
Self-Study: Mood Stabilizers (powerpoint)
Self-Study: Second Generation Antipsychotics (powerpoint)
Classroom: Level 1 Case Conference
Classroom: Level 2 Case Conference
Classroom: Integrative Case Conference- Postpartum Psychosis Case
Media Conference

This module was last updated in January 2022.

Objectives

  • Describe the relative magnitude of relapse risk for women with Bipolar Disorder during pregnancy and the postpartum period.

  • Understand factors that influence the risk benefit analysis in treatment of a perinatal woman with Bipolar Disorder.

  • Describe risks of untreated Bipolar Disorder with an understanding of potential risks to fetus/patient during pregnancy.

Self-Study

Classroom

This module utilizes a clinical case presentation to broaden learners’ knowledge of the management of bipolar disorder in the perinatal period.

Launch Trainee Guide

This module utilizes a clinical case presentation to broaden learners’ knowledge of the management of bipolar disorder in the perinatal period.

Launch Trainee Guide

This module focuses on an integrated approach to the care of the perinatal patient. Learners work on how to integrate the biological, psychological, and social perspectives into the formulation of patients with postpartum psychosis.

Launch Trainee Guide

This module focuses on the reading and interpretation of the perinatal literature, in both professional and lay media. Learners will demonstrate the ability to analyze reproductive psychiatry issues as portrayed by the lay media, how to locate and analyze the scientific literature relevant to the issues raised by the lay media, and how to convey the patients accurate and clinical relevant information about “hot topics” in the lay media.

Supplemental Links

Launch Trainee Guide