Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in the treatment of postpartum psychosis

Postpartum psychosis is one of the most severe manifestations of postpartum mental illness. A psychiatric emergency, the prompt recognition and treatment of postpartum psychosis is essential in insuring maternal and infant well-being and safety. Here, we review the literature on the phenomenology of postpartum psychosis and the prevalence of use, safety, and efficacy of electroconvulsive therapy as a treatment. Studies were searched using CINAHL, EMBASE, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and PubMed databases. Based on our review, we argue that for some patients, electroconvulsive therapy should be the treatment of choice.