is psycho-education beneficial in the early stages of this illness to patients and family's

[shelly3108]

[bpdmum]

Hi. Not quite sure what you mean by psycho-education, but I know the support group for family and carers that the doctor at the mother and baby unit used to hold monthly was helpful for my husband and parents. They were able to ask questions etc and speak to other people who had a relative in the unit, so it did help their understanding of the illness. I think the only downside was that it was only monthly, so if admitted just after a meeting, it would have been three weeks or so before the next opportunity. I think organisations like the NCT should make parents aware as part of their antenatal classes too. I remember baby blues and postnatal depression being mentioned vaguely in our group, but it meant we had NO idea what was happening, resulting in late diagnosis and treatment.

[valeria123]

yes i think it should be included in antenatal classes. i was diagnosed 27yrs ago and it was very frightening as it was not spoken about. i now have bi polar and have done 3 self management training courses which have really hekped me to manage my condition well

[JoannaBrooks]

When I was in a MBU nearly 3 years ago, there was no support group- not even a monthly one. I think there should definitely be more education for pregnant women, and more psychological support for those suffering from it and their families. I was so traumatised by the time I got to a MBU (having had the horrific experience of being sectioned and placed on a locked mixed general psychiatric ward in a tower block, claustrophobic hospital in Lewisham). I thought I had developed schizophrenia like my aunt and gran and the fear of it made things much worse. (I thought I would never recover and spend the rest of my life= which tell then had been mental illness free= in mental institutions). More education in hospital would have taken some of the fear away.

There was a page in my NCT notes on post partum psychosis, which I think I briefly read, but it did not register when I got ill. Post natal depression and psychosis were not discussed in the class, which is a big shame. But post natal depression is so widely known that most people would recognise the symptoms. Yet even my gp when I first started to get ill and was displaying classic post partum psychosis symptoms, said I had post natal depression and wanted to give me antidepressants. God knows what those would have done, when I was already manic. And I have since learnt most of my GPs in the practice had not even heard of this.

[Lilybeth Volunteer]

Hi Shelly, I'm also not quite sure what you mean by psycho-education. My first psychosis was 37 years ago when very little was discussed and never mentioned in ante-natal classes. In fact, I'm not sure if c-sections were even mentioned as I well remember hurtling down the hospital corridor on a trolley (baby in distress) asking the nurse what a c-section was, as we approached the Theatre! In those days a c-section meant being out for the count, so I didn't see my beautiful bundle of joy until the next day.

Following my discharge from hospital, unfortunately, my G.P. at the time and my parents' G.P. failed me and I self-harmed, believing I was a bad mother, hearing a voice which commanded me to jump from a first floor window. I was sectioned and after having my leg pinned was sent to a general mixed psychiatric hospital, without my baby, where I received ECT.

I think women today should be informed of the risk during their ante-natal care. They should also be made aware of the support available if PP presents itself and takes hold.

[Hannah_at_APP Administrator]

Hi, like others I'm not sure what form or detail this would take. But I agree that raising awareness amongst women (pregnant or not, mental health history or not) is really important. There's so little out there. When I was expecting my son in 2009, I had no idea PP even existed. You hear about PND and that it can vary but nothing that talked about the devastation and suddent onset of PP - although with the internet having developed even in the years since, plus the excellent work of APP I think we're getting there.

I also think that midwives on the frontline, both in the community and involved in delivering babies need to have more awareness. I was lucky that the one who visited me at home post-birth spotted the signs. But it still took a couple of GPs, specialist and then a section to get me the help I needed.

Support for those coming out of hospital or MBU could also probably be better and is patchy - although I am thankful for all the NHS has done for me and my family. Possibly no exaggeration to say we wouldn't be where we are today without it. A support group would have been good, although there's probably a tricky balance to get without isolating people more, "pigeon-holing" or labelling is easy to fall into.

I had support in the community for about 18 months after discharge from a CPN attached to the local Early Intervention Team, specific to psychosis. I loved going out for coffee with her, and although it was a professional relationship and I know she wasn't my "friend", we had lots in common, similar age etc and got on well which was good. What I would have loved back in those early days was to talk to "someone like me" but where I am now, nearly 4 years on and recovered, albeit after a long hard slog. I think this website and the work of APP is great in reaching out and plugging this gap. Always more we can do of course and I hope to be more involved in it if I can!