Postpartum psychosis at center of Massachusetts mother's murder trial

A jury heard opening statements in the Massachusetts trial of Lindsay Clancy, a former labor and delivery nurse accused of killing her three children under the age of 5 in 2023. While both sides acknowledge Clancy committed the acts, the central question is her criminal responsibility, with the defense arguing postpartum psychosis drove her actions.

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It's estimated to afflict only 1 to 2 per 1,000 women after delivery.

Clancy and her ex-husband have filed lawsuits against her medical providers, alleging a failure to properly diagnose and treat her condition. Postpartum psychosis, described by experts as a mental health emergency that distorts a person's reality, affects an estimated 1 to 2 in 1,000 women after childbirth. It can occur within weeks of delivery and is more common in individuals with a history of psychiatric issues, particularly bipolar disorder.

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It's a mental health emergency affecting someone's sense of reality.

While most women with postpartum psychosis do not harm their children, severe cases can lead to infanticide and self-harm. The condition is distinct from the more common postpartum depression, which affects up to 19% of U.S. mothers, and the milder "baby blues." Symptoms of postpartum psychosis can include hallucinations, delusions, paranoia, and significant mood swings, often appearing within days or up to six weeks after birth. Experts emphasize the critical need for immediate help if signs of the disorder are observed.

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about half of people with postpartum psychosis have a previous history of psychiatric problems and the most common risk factor associated with the condition is bipolar affective disorder, which causes extreme mood swings.