Postpartum Psychosis: Exploring the mother-baby relationship

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  Exploring relationships between mothers and their new-born baby following admission to a Mother and Baby Unit for a first episode of postpartum psychosis: a longitudinal qualitative study

• IRAS ID

  293390

• Contact name

  Polly Harrison

• Contact email

  researchsponsor@uea.ac.uk

• Sponsor organisation

  University of East Anglia

• Duration of Study in the UK

  1 years, 7 months, 29 days

• Research summary

  The research study aims to explore mothers’ lived experience of their relationship with their new-born child, following a first episode of postpartum psychosis, and admission to a Mother and Baby Unit (MBU). The study aims to explore the lived experience over time to capture the dynamic nature of building a relationship, both in the MBU with support from staff and at home with support from their loved ones. At present the literature in this area focuses on understanding postpartum psychosis, the risk factors which may increase vulnerability, and interventions which largely focus on using medication. There is a current gap in the literature in understanding the relationship between mother and baby. Currently perinatal services are a priority for NHS England and for effective interventions and supportive services to be designed a more detailed understanding of the relational experiences is needed.
  Participants would be interviewed at three time points over a period of around 3 months. Interviews will be analysed using a longitudinal approach with thematic analysis. This allows for a detailed understanding of experiences over time, which is a novel approach for this research area. Participants will be mothers who have experienced an acute first episode of postpartum psychosis and admitted to an MBU. The Patient and Public involvement team are involved in collaborating on the design of the semi-structured interview, including questions and prompts so that they are worded sensitively and appropriately.

  Following completion of the research study, the study findings will be published and shared with clinicians and service users. It is anticipated that future patients could benefit from this research, by the study contributing to the evidence base and developing mother-baby interventions.

• REC name

  East of England - Cambridge South Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  21/EE/0082

• Date of REC Opinion

  19 May 2021

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion