Estrogen administration does not reduce the rate of recurrence of affective psychosis after childbirth.

Background: High rates of postpartum relapse occur in women with histories of bipolar or schizoaffective disorder. These relapses may be triggered by the postdelivery fall in circulating estrogen through alteration of central neurotransmitter (especially dopaminergic) systems. This study tested the hypothesis that estrogen administration after childbirth would prevent postpartum relapse and would alter dopamine receptor sensitivity.

The general fertility rate in women with psychotic disorders.

Objective: This study determined the general fertility rate and age-specific fertility rates for women with psychotic disorders.

Method: This historical matched-cohort study of patient records from a primary care database (the General Practice Research Database) was carried out for women of childbearing age (15-44 years) with psychotic disorders.

Results: The women with psychotic disorders (N=7,936) had a lower overall general fertility rate than the normal comparison subjects (N=23,023), although fertility was only significantly lower in the women aged 25 and above.