Searching for the Puerperal Trigger: Molecular Genetic Studies of Bipolar Affective Puerperal Psychosis

The available evidence suggests that the puerperium is a period of increased risk for acute episodes of illness in bipolar (BP) women and points to genetic factors as influencing vulnerability to postpartum triggering of such episodes. We have previously reported compelling evidence of familiarity of vulnerability to puerperal episodes in female sibs with BP disorder and find similar familial clustering for episodes of narrowly defined postpartum episodes in siblings with major depression. Molecular genetic approaches hold out the promise of uncovering the nature of the puerperal trigger leading to important improvements in the prevention and treatment of postpartum affective episodes. A research strategy…