Mothers and mental illness: Breaking the silence about child loss

Weller, Penelope

doi:10.1016/j.ijlp.2019.101500

Cited by 2 publications

(1 citation statement)

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“…Her symptoms may not have recovered from postpartum exacerbation, and, at the same time, this is the time period during which the child is totally dependent on the mother. Child-protection agencies know that there is a significant relationship between parental perinatal mental health problems and the risk of child maltreatment [58,59]. Under the influence of delusional thinking, mothers with psychosis may physically hurt their child [60] or, as a result of negative symptoms or adverse effects of antipsychotics on cognition, mothers may neglect to feed or provide much needed child care.…”

Section: Child Custodymentioning

confidence: 99%

Grappling with Issues of Motherhood for Women with Schizophrenia

Seeman

2023

Healthcare

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Despite the fact that most persons with schizophrenia find steady employment difficult to sustain, many women with this diagnosis embrace and fulfill the most difficult task of all—motherhood. The aim of this paper is to specify the challenges of motherhood in this population and review the treatment strategies needed to keep mothers and children safe, protecting health and fostering growth. The review addresses concerns that had been brought to the author’s earlier attention during her clinical involvement with an outpatient clinic for women with psychosis. It is, thus, a non-systematic, narrative review of topic areas subjectively assessed as essential to “good enough” mothering in the context of schizophrenia. Questions explored are the stigma against motherhood in this population, mothers’ painful choices, issues of contraception, abortion, child custody, foster care and kin placement of children, the effects of antipsychotics, specific perinatal delusional syndromes, and, finally, the availability of parental support. This review is intended for clinicians. Recommendations are that care providers work collaboratively with mothers, take note of their strengths as well as their failings, offer a wide array of family services, monitor households closely for safety and for treatment adherence, appreciating the many challenges women with schizophrenia face daily.

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Section: Child Custodymentioning

confidence: 99%