A prospective study of postpartum psychoses in a high-risk group. 7. Relationship to later offspring characteristics.

Among the offspring of 88 pregnant index women with a history of nonorganic psychosis, offspring whose mothers developed postpartum psychotic episodes (PPPs) following birth (maximum n = 17) were compared with the remaining index offspring on emotional development during the first year of life, temperament characteristics during the first 2 years, and mental characteristics at 6 years of age. The maternal PPPs were not associated with any negative consequences for offspring development, and the offspring of PPP cases evidenced a number of more positive mental developmental characteristics than did other index offspring. Further comparison with offspring of normal-risk controls also supported the conclusion of no negative effect caused by maternal PPPs. Choice of an appropriate comparison group for PPP cases is discussed.