Sleep-wake cycle alterations and their role in triggering peripartum psychosis: A clinical perspective

Background: Peripartum psychosis is a rare disorder of the mind, which can occur shortly before or after childbirth. Even though many factors lead to its occurrence, there is an increasing belief that sleep-wake disruptions may play a significant role in the development of such diseases. Objective: The study main goal of investigating the relationship between sleep problems and the initiation of peripartum psychosis in women having high-risk pregnancies and women in the postpartum period. Methods: Clinical observational research was done in the Obstetrics and Psychiatry departments of a tertiary care hospital. In total, 42 women who were in their last trimester or who were at most six weeks postpartum were examined by using the Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), clinical interviews, and psychiatric assessments based on DSM-5/ICD-10 criteria. Results: More than four-fifths of the participants (83.3%) in the study reported poor sleep quality (PSQI > 5). Of those people 66.7% were found to have peripartum psychosis, and 73.8% showed depression symptoms. High correlations were noted between sleep issues and both psychotic (r = 0.58, p