Catatonia among women with postpartum psychosis in a Mother-Baby inpatient psychiatry unit.

OBJECTIVE: The aims of the present study were to determine the prevalence of catatonia in women with postpartum psychosis, describe its socio demographic, clinical and obstetric correlates and identify predictors of treatment response.

METHODS: Data was extracted from clinical charts of 200 women with postpartum psychosis admitted to an inpatient mother baby unit (MBU) in India over a 3year period.

RESULTS: Of the 200 patients, 20% (n=40) had symptoms of catatonia. Mean catatonia score on the Bush Francis Catatonia Rating Scale (BFCRS) was 14.97±3.2. The most frequent catatonic feature was mutism (n=40, 100%). Adequate response to lorazepam trial in catatonia was seen in half the women (n=18/36), with longer duration of untreated catatonia being associated with poorer response. An adequate response to Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) was seen in 19 women who did not respond to the lorazepam trial. Women with catatonia had significantly higher rates of onset within the first four weeks of postpartum period (50% vs 31.5%, P=0.022) and a longer duration of untreated psychosis at presentation (79.46±159.88 vs 56.12±47.26, P=0.002) compared to mothers without catatonia.

CONCLUSION: Catatonic symptoms were identified in one-fifth (20%) of women with postpartum psychosis. Early identification and treatment of catatonia are essential for rapid control of symptoms in this vulnerable population.