Qualitative methodology is increasingly being used to inform patient-centered health research. Since postpartum psychosis (PP) is considered the most severe perinatal mental health disorder, it is important to use qualitative research to gain a richer understanding of the PP experience than quantitative studies can provide. This paper is the first systematic review of qualitative experiences of PP and focuses on the recovery experiences of individuals with PP and their families. An analysis of 15 studies of 103 women and 42 family members describes a challenging, nonlinear pathway to recovery from PP.
This review points to gaps in the current qualitative literature on PP. First, little qualitative work focuses on treatment-related experiences of PP or healthcare providers’ knowledge of PP. This makes it hard to identify best practices of care for this population. Future research should examine the impact of socioecological factors on the onset of PP. Existing qualitative research on PP has focused on white, well-educated individuals with access to treatment. Thus, larger, more racially and ethnically diverse studies of PP are necessary to describe cultural considerations in PP treatment and recovery. PP researchers must recognize the effects on ongoing stigma, bias, and structural racism on perinatal mental health diagnosis and treatment in communities of color. Moreover, research with geographically diverse samples could explore PP treatment experiences across different health care systems. Qualitative research has the potential to fill in gaps in the current understanding of PP. Describing the lived experiences of PP can inform interventions, facilitate recovery, and improve long-term outcomes for patients with PP and their families.
Citation: Kobylski LA, Le H-N, Freeman MP, et al. Enhancing postpartum psychosis care with qualitative research: current findings and future directions. J Clin Psychiatry. 2024;85(2):24com15305.
Written by Peri Barest, Clinical Research Coordinator
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