A comparison of puerperal psychosis and the schizophreniform variant of manic-depression.

The authors review the evidence indicating that puerperal psychosis is a nosological entity. The psychosis most closely resembling puerperal psychosis is the schizophreniform variant of manic-depression, and the authors propose that if marked differences can be found between that state and puerperal psychosis, then the finding will tend to confirm the separateness of puerperal psychosis. They compare two such sets of patients, and conclude that the claim of puerperal psychosis to the status of a nosological entity is further supported.