Unusual experiences of pregnant women and new mothers
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Unusual experiences of pregnant women and new mothers
IRAS ID
262575
Contact name
Frederike Mueller
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Royal Holloway, University of London
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 10 months, 1 days
Research summary
Postpartum Psychosis (PP) is a serious mental health condition which affects 1-2 women in every 1000 births. Unfortunately, research aiming to understand psychological processes underpinning PP has been very limited, which has hampered the development of screening tools and psychological interventions. However, research on Psychotic Like Experiences (PLEs), subjective nonclinical experiences of hallucinations and unusual beliefs, has shown that PLEs are common in pregnant/postpartum women. They occur on a continuum with psychosis and are linked to a heightened risk of psychosis. Hence, learning more about psychological factors associated with PLEs in pregnant/postpartum women can contribute to the understanding of PP.
Models have suggested that particular thought patterns such as biased and extreme interpretations of common events and internal states (e.g. moods) are relevant for the development and maintenance of psychosis. This project will therefore investigate the role of these thinking habits, linked distress and PLEs.
Five questionnaires measuring PLEs, thinking habits and distress will be administered to healthy pregnant/postpartum women (non-clinical group) recruited from maternity services, children’s centres and online platforms and to women with a higher chance of developing PP (clinical group) under the care of South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLAM) community perinatal mental health teams. Participants will be asked to fill in questionnaires twice – while pregnant and, if possible, four weeks after birth. This will allow the researchers to investigate potential changes after birth supporting the identification of factors linked to PP and a need for further support.
Women from the general population will be asked to fill in an online study and women under the care of a perinatal team can choose to fill in the questionnaires with the researcher after one of their perinatal appointments or online in their own time. It is estimated that it will take 25 minutes to fill in the questionnaires.REC name
London - Queen Square Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/LO/1287
Date of REC Opinion
27 Apr 2020
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion