Postpartum Depression A Severe Psychotic Syndrome

â€Å"Postpartum psychosis is a severe psychotic syndrome that is estimated to occur after 1.1 to 4 of every 1000 deliveries. More than half of the affected women meet diagnostic criteria for major depression† (Weissman and Olfson 800). Postpartum depression is a more common and less threatening mental illness than postpartum psychosis, however, Margery Kempe displays the more fatal symptoms. Several readers believe that Margery Kempe was a woman who devoted her life to God, however, after her first child was born Margery Kempe was recognizably sick and continued these symptoms throughout the entire book. In The Book of Margery Kempe, the first autobiography in the English Language, Margery Kempe displays the symptoms of hallucinations, crying†¦show more content†¦This syndrome may represent a variety of normal emotional changes after childbirth and is usually not treated† (Wiessman and Olfson 800). Since Margery Kempe continued to be depressed, have hallucinat ions, and crying periods throughout the entire book, it could not have been postpartum blues. Postpartum depression is the next severe, â€Å"which often resembles other forms of major depression, occurs in 10 to 15% of new mothers. Although most such depressive episodes begin within 2 weeks of delivery, depression can occur at any time during the following several months† (Wiessman and Olfson 800). Margery Kempe had postpartum depression after the birth of her child, however, it was never treated since it was discovered in 1858. Once Margery Kempe had her nervous breakdown of seeing the Devil, she had reached full postpartum psychosis. Additionally, Seward found that repeated pregnancies will bring a repetition of symptoms (521). Often when people are sick, they experience an apparent perception of something that is not truly there. This is known as hallucinations. This is a symptom of postpartum psychosis. After the birth of Margery Kemps first child, Margery had a nervous breakdown. She saw the hideous devils all around her, â€Å"And in this time she saw, as she thought, devils open their mouths, all inflamed with burning flames of fire as if they should have swallowed her in, sometimes Postpartum Depression A Severe Psychotic Syndrome â€Å"Postpartum psychosis is a severe psychotic syndrome that is estimated to occur after 1.1 to 4 of every 1000 deliveries. More than half of the affected women meet diagnostic criteria for major depression† (Weissman and Olfson 800). Postpartum depression is a further common mental illness than postpartum psychosis, however Margery Kempe displays serious symptoms. Several readers believe that Margery Kempe was a woman who devoted her life to God, however, after her first child was born Margery Kempe was recognizably sick due to the feelings that she should not live. In The Book of Margery Kempe, the first autobiography in the English Language, Margery Kempe displays the symptoms of hallucinations, crying episodes, and depression to show that she has postpartum psychosis. â€Å"In 1858 postpartum psychosis was determined by organic factors and constituted a disease entity† (Swyer 1232). To understand whether Margery Kempe had postpartum depression, psychosis, or a different mental illness like depression after her first child, readers have to look at the symptoms Margery Kempe showed and the symptoms of each illness. To start, depression is the least serious and can happen to anyone. Wiessman and Olfson said that women tend to be more depressed than men and can begin early in adolescence years, â€Å"around 13 to 15 years of age, and is maintained throughout life. There is a peak in first onsets during the childbearing years and a decrease in onsets after age 45†and that â€Å"depressedShow MoreRelatedPostpartum Depression : A Severe Psychotic Syndrome1284 Words   |  6 Pagesâ€Å"Postpartum psychosis is a severe psychotic syndrome that is estimated to occur after 1.1 to 4 of every 1000 deliveries. More than half of the affected wo men meet diagnostic criteria for major depression† (Weissman and Olfson 800). Postpartum depression is a more common and less threatening mental illness than postpartum psychosis, however, Margery Kempe displays the more fatal symptoms. Several readers believe that Margery Kempe was a woman who devoted her life to God, however, after her first childRead MoreDepression Disorder And Its Causes1100 Words   |  5 PagesDepression Disorder and Its Causes Miami Dade College Depression Disorder and Its Causes A depressive disorder is an illness that involves the body, mood, and thoughts. It interferes with daily life, normal functioning, and causes pain for both the person with the disorder and those who care about him or her. A depressive disorder is not the same as passing blue moon, it is not a sign of a personal weakness or a condition that can be wished away. People with depressive illness can get better by â€Å"pullingRead MoreThe Goals Of Developmental Psychology1406 Words   |  6 Pagesto this one factor. Evidence of this is that an individual who decides to drink any sort of alcoholic beverage while impregnated can cause their offspring to undergo mental retardation as well as other types of learning disabilities. Fetal alcohol syndrome is a huge downfall while drinking during pregnancy because both cognitive and physical disorders can happen to that child. Another teratogen are diseases. Many diseases can be transmitted before or after the baby is birthed. The severity of the effectsRead MoreEffects Of Lithium And Lamotrigine On Pregnant Bipolar Women1759 Words   |  8 PagesThe Effects of Lithium and Lamotrigine on Pregnant Bipolar Women By: Jennifer Saebom Choe Introduction to Bipolar Disorder (BP) Bipolar disorder (BD) or manic depression is a mental disorder that affects roughly 1-2% of the population. It is marked by severe mood swings between depression and mania, periods of great delusions and overactivity. It is often treated with mood stabilizers, antipsychotics and antidepressants, and sometimes benzodiazepines. Of the medications, lithium and lamotrigineRead MoreDepression And Its Effects On Society1599 Words   |  7 Pagesthis emotional state is usually short-lived. When one suffers from depression, it impacts day-to-day life and causes unspeakable torment for the sufferer and his or her loved one. Thus, depression is uncompromising yet a common emotional, medical issue involving the human brain and appallingly disturbs more than 20 million people in the United States alone. Since there is a lack of knowledge about certain mental disorders like depression, people that endure psychological conditions succumb to unnecessaryRead MoreCause, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Mood Disorders Essay4411 Words   |  18 Pages NIMH (2009) also list gender as another major risk factor for mood disorders, particularly depressive disorders. With women having nearly twice as much risk of developing major depression as men. It is believed that hormones involved in pregnancy and miscarriage and hormone changes during the menstrual cycle, postpartum period, pre-menopause and menopause may attribute this in women. According to NIMH (2009) about 9.5 percent of American adults, or about 18.8 million people, have a mood disorderRead MoreEffects of Abortion on the Father6404 Words   |  26 Pagesof abortion in America, how abortion affects the father, and if pre-abortion counseling affects the abortion decision. OVERVIEW: The medical association has acknowledged that abortion can have traumatic effects on women (e.g. Post Abortion Syndrome); however men also can be affected by abortion. Women are given special considerations because they are the carrier of the unborn. Fathers are disregarded and overlooked as the seed or bloodline of life. Today, men have no legal rights, and areRead MoreSymptoms And Treatment Of Depressive Disorders1868 Words   |  8 Pagesprofessionals, and often delays proper diagnosis. Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is one of the most common depressive disorders, affecting 11.4% of the U.S. population aged 12 to 17, and 6.7% of all U.S adults (NIMH, 2016). Regardless of type, depression is a topic of grave concern considering the alarming rates in the country, the shortage of qualified therapists, and resistance to many of the existing medications. Treatment options have varied greatly throughout the years, and the use of alternativeRead MorePsychiatrists and Spe cial Population Essay3236 Words   |  13 Pagesup to 18% of women experience depressed mood during pregnancy with nearly 13% having an episode that would meet the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual-Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) diagnostic criteria for a major depressive disorder. Furthermore, postpartum depression affects 10-22% of adult women and up to 26% of adolescent mother. The prevalence of general anxiety disorder has been estimated at 8.5% in pregnancy, but there is little research on the impact on pregnancy outcomes. Evidence indicate womenRead MoreFemale Serial Killers2154 Words   |  9 PagesBEHIND THESE MURDERS When women committed violence, the only explanation that had been offered was that it is involuntary, defensive, or the result of mental illness or hormonal imbalance inherent with female physiology: postpartum depression, premenstrual syndrome and menopause had been included among the named culprits. Women had been generally perceived to be capable of committing only expressive violence- an uncontrollable release of bottles up rage or fear, often as a result of long term