Maternal Postpartum Psychosis: A Case of Infanticide

Introduction: Postpartum psychosis (sometimes called perinatal psychosis or puerperal psychosis) constitutes a real public health issue given its prevalence and the serious symptoms it can present, sometimes endangering the mother-child prognosis. It affects one to two cases per 1,000 deliveries. Studies estimate that approximately 43% of patients with puerperal psychosis have thoughts of infanticide, 5% have committed suicide, and 4% have committed infanticide. Objectives: Through this work, we will attempt to review the scientific literature on the risk factors for postpartum psychosis and its impact on the mother-child relationship, to define this serious act of infanticide targeting one’s own child by presenting a clinical vignette, and ultimately to highlight the importance of screening and early management of postpartum psychiatric disorders. Materials and Methods: We will base our work on the analysis of a clinical case of a 33-year-old woman who presented with postpartum psychosis with an act of infanticide followed by a suicide attempt, and a literature review using the keywords “postpartum psychosis, suicide, infanticide, mother/child relationship, postpartum psychiatric disorders” in various search engines: Google Scholar, PubMed, Embase, and PsychoInfo. Conclusion: Practitioners must carefully recognize and assess situations that present an emergency. The illustration of our clinical case shows to what extent the role of the psychiatrist is decisive in the prevention and therapeutic management of psychiatric disorders occurring post-partum and which can be complicated at any time by an act of infanticide or suicide