They were deeply worried and had difficulty coping with the situation. In an interview study with eight men, Meighan et al 20 found that the illness strongly affected the men's lives and relationships with the women. Only three studies concerning solely men's experiences were found in the literature review. 18 By contrast, the father may compensate for the sake of the child when mothers are depressive 19 and one third of the men were described as supportive partners. Fathers may be depressed if mothers show signs of depression. 13– 16 Partners of women with PPPD also have a high rate of psychiatric disorders 17 and indicate that one third of the interviewed men described having mental disorders simultaneously with their partners. 6, 8Īnother person involved in PPPD is the woman's partner, who is also attempting to adjust to the transition to parenthood, to the presence of the new baby, as well as the distress of the partner's illness. 8–12 Postpartum psychosis is a condition affecting 1–2 in 1000 women close to birth, where the woman displays acute psychotic symptoms such as anxiety, hallucinations and delusions. 6, 7 Postpartum depression affects about 7–15% of women who have recently given birth, with symptoms of depressed mood including concentration difficulties, extreme fatigue, anxiety and suicidal ideation. Baby blues is a state characterised by tumultuous feelings of being physically and mentally fragile, instability of mood and disturbed sleep the prevalence is 50–80% of newly delivered women. Psychiatric disturbances associated with childbirth are usually distinguished in three different conditions. 1 Postpartum psychiatric disorders (PPPD) are serious and disabling, and these conditions may lead to long-term adverse consequences for women and their families. Further research is needed to ascertain how and to what extent this should be included in the education.īecoming a parent is generally associated with great joy, but sometimes the picture is darkened when failing mental health becomes apparent in the woman during the transition to parenthood.
Furthermore, information regarding the possibility of these disorders should be given to expectant couples in prenatal classes. Health professionals should pay more attention to men's mental health in the postpartum period. Most of the men gained maturity and increased self-esteem, but for some the result was divorce, custody disputes and loneliness.Ĭonclusions The men in this study experienced the woman's PPPD as a difficult time, when everything familiar was turned upside down. Although the disorder improved over time, they were left to face an uncertain future with a woman who seemed to be very different from the person they had known previously. Most of the men described making sacrifices in order to hold the relationship and the family together. They expressed fear, confusion and anger they were also extremely concerned about their partners, and felt unable to help in overcoming the disorder. Results The men revealed a major disruption in their lives. Data were analysed using content analysis. Methods Eleven written narratives from the internet were used to analyse men's perceived experience of their partner's PPPDs. The aim of this study was to explore men's experience of women with PPPD. Partners of women with PPPD are also affected by the illness, but their experiences are seldom described.
Objectives Postpartum psychiatric disorders (PPPD) can be serious and disabling, and may lead to long-term adverse consequences.
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