This article is less than 2 pages long, so if anyone has the time, check it out. The article author concludes, "As Spinelli noted 'Our reluctance to place postpartum disorders within a diagnostic framework often leads to tragic outcomes for women, family, and society' (Spinelli 2005, p. 19). To conclude, a distinct PPP diagnosis would represent a significant legal development for US mothers." What do you think of this suggestion regarding PPP (post-partum psychosis)?
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Thanks for sharing! I think Spinelli is making a great point that can be applied with a much broader paintbrush. A distinct PPP diagnosis could encourage public awareness for the disorder, increase funding for postpartum support, and spur on research into identification, prevention, and therapy.
Additionally, in the article, there is a suggestion that the USA is unable to replace the insanity defense with infanticide laws due to the lack of a proper PPP diagnosis. In my opinion, part of this reluctance to utilize a PPP diagnosis is due to:
1. Lack of research involving pregnant women due to fetal safety concerns. Pharmacotherapy in particular is tricky in pregnant women considering the fluctuations in metabolism that occur throughout gestation. Further, women with bipolar disorder are at a higher risk of PPP. However, Lithium, which is a common mood stabilizer, has been found to elevate the risk of congenital malformations in fetuses.
2. Stigma against women who fail in their maternal roles. It seems many adults feel that protecting children is our utmost duty. Overcoming the negative emotions, or even visceral reactions, inspired by "bad moms" is difficult. I imagine convincing lawmakers to overcome this, in addition to asking for leniency is even more difficult.
I'd argue that there is a fascination with "bad moms" in our popular media (Mommy Dearest, Carrie, Dance Moms, etc.). This is even now a trope in many horror movies - Wisecrack has a really informative and entertaining video on this (below - CONTAINS SPOILERS). I believe that the first step to improving outcomes for women with PPP, especially in legal settings, starts with recognizing the difficulties of motherhood.
An absorbing brief article which is a little disturbing (Some states effectively axing the insanity plea) and specifics I had no idea of:
"Thus, it’s possible for a woman who kills her child while suffering from postpartum psychosis
(PPP) to be put to death as punishment for a crime committed during a psychotic episode without being able to assert
an insanity defense."
Personally, a diagnosis of PPP is an immediate call that the individual needs help and will probably need a good deal of therapy and counseling once the full impact of their action hits them - they will not benefit from incarceration.
It's evident that the rules of onus probundi mean that the defense needs to 'prove' a diagnosis of PPP. However, it might help to assume in cases such as these that there is PPP present and then work from there.
The crime of hurting a child is something that affects all of us viscerally, and thus it's important that we recognize in cases with PPP the presence of two victims - both mother and child.
Here is a list of criteria as it stands here in the UK for diagnosis:
As a mother myself, I found this article to be quite interesting to read.
Very interesting article. I wonder how much more a diagnosis of PPP would give us than a diagnosis of major depressive disorder, with psychotic features, with peripartum onset. Does it add anything we can't already diagnose now?
Great article. I completely agree that it's very important to establish a clear diagnosis of postpartum psychosis. After all, it is different than what we know as "baby blues", which are just mild mood swings after delivery.
Interesting read. The author makes a lot of sense.