Roxburgh Emily, Taylor Billie Lever, Hodgekins Joanne
Norwich Medical School, The University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK.
Division of Methodologies, Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing, Midwifery and Palliative Care, King's College London, London, UK.
Community Ment Health J. 2025 Jun 6. doi: 10.1007/s10597-025-01479-4.
Postpartum psychosis (PP) affects one to two per 1,000 women and requires urgent intervention. Whilst PP primarily impacts women, it can place significant strain on partners, who often play a pivotal role throughout postnatal care and recovery. Little is known about how mental health services engage with and support partners during a PP episode. Therefore, this study aims to explore partners' experiences of mental health services to better understand their experiences and needs and inform service provision. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 partners of women who received support for psychosis following childbirth. Findings were analysed thematically. Three main themes were identified: 'understanding and responding to PP', 'partners' involvement in PP care' and 'the responsibilities undertaken and partner wellbeing'. Partners struggled to recognise PP and reported variability in healthcare professionals' knowledge of the condition. They urged for greater information and awareness of PP for partners, professionals and society. Most took on advocacy roles yet reported inconsistent involvement from services. Their ongoing responsibilities and PP related experiences significantly impacted their emotional wellbeing, with many finding services unresponsive to their needs. Some felt lucky to receive tailored support from charities and general practitioners. Many highlighted the need for improvements in integrated care frameworks for partners. These findings call for more inclusive and consistent care frameworks that actively involve, inform, and support partners with recognising and responding to symptoms of PP, involvement in care and supporting their wellbeing throughout. Further efforts are required to raise awareness of PP, improve staff training, and explore partners' needs from varying backgrounds, time points, and circumstances.
产后精神病（PP）影响着每1000名女性中的1至2人，需要紧急干预。虽然产后精神病主要影响女性，但它会给伴侣带来巨大压力，伴侣在产后护理和康复过程中往往起着关键作用。关于心理健康服务在产后精神病发作期间如何与伴侣接触并提供支持，人们知之甚少。因此，本研究旨在探索伴侣对心理健康服务的体验，以更好地了解他们的经历和需求，并为服务提供提供参考。对12名产后接受精神病支持的女性的伴侣进行了半结构式访谈。对研究结果进行了主题分析。确定了三个主要主题：“对产后精神病的理解和应对”、“伴侣参与产后精神病护理”以及“承担的责任与伴侣的幸福感”。伴侣们难以识别产后精神病，并报告称医护人员对该病的了解存在差异。他们敦促为伴侣、专业人员和社会提供更多关于产后精神病的信息并提高认识。大多数伴侣承担了宣传角色，但报告称服务机构的参与不一致。他们持续的责任和与产后精神病相关的经历对他们的情绪健康产生了重大影响，许多人发现服务机构对他们的需求没有反应。一些人感到幸运能得到慈善机构和全科医生提供的量身定制的支持。许多人强调需要改进针对伴侣的综合护理框架。这些研究结果呼吁建立更具包容性和一致性的护理框架，积极让伴侣参与进来，为他们提供信息并给予支持，帮助他们识别和应对产后精神病的症状，参与护理并在整个过程中支持他们的幸福感。需要进一步努力提高对产后精神病的认识，改善工作人员培训，并探索不同背景、时间点和情况下伴侣的需求。
