A Case Report on Seumumbo Ritual-Induced Postpartum Psychosis

Abstract

The most serious psychiatric condition related to childbirth is postpartum psychosis, and women who have had bipolar disorder, schizoaffective disorder, or a previous episode of postpartum psychosis are more susceptible. Despite the fact that altered stress responses are significant risk factors for psychosis in people with non-puerperal psychosis, it is unknown whether this occurs in postpartum psychosis. Seumumbo is a traditional medical practice that is typically performed by a shaman. Seumumbo is also more commonly associated with medical activities involving children. In addition, it is frequently used to treat fever, fussiness, and other ailments in children. We presented a case of a 32-yearold primipara woman from the Acehnese tribe with postpartum psychosis. Two weeks after birth, the child had a fever and she experienced delusions and hallucinations. According to the family's confession, she began experiencing these symptoms after the seumumbo ritual was performed to treat the child. This case report presents intriguing grounds for conducting further research on the role of stress and immunological responses in this clinical population and offers early evidence that stress and biological responses to stress may play a role in the etiology of postpartum psychosis.