Screening for Bipolar Disorder During Pregnancy and the Postpartum Period

The postpartum period is a time of increased risk of illness onset and exacerbation of mood episodes in women with bipolar disorder. Because the onset of mood and psychotic episodes occurs so soon after birth and as this high-risk period is brief, antenatal screening is vital for identification of women who are at risk for mood instability. Screening facilitates prompt recognition and treatment of emerging psychopathology and thus addresses some of the key safety issues that affect women, their babies, and their families.