Postpartum Suicide Linked to Mental Illness History

New mothers with a history of depression increase their risk of attempted suicide. Researchers say postpartum suicide is rare, however, the new findings point to a group of women who may be at greatest risk.

Researchers from the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology found that new mothers with mental illness or psychiatric disorder could be likely to attempt suicide. The study included nearly 1,800 women who recently gave birth were 27 times more likely to attempt suicide in the year after having their baby.

While postpartum suicide is rare, the new findings point to a group of women who may be at greatest risk.

The recent findings are based on hospital records from women who gave birth in Washington State between 1992 and 2001. The researchers identified 355 women who were hospitalized for a suicide attempt in the year after giving birth; they matched each of these women with another four who had given birth in the same year but did not attempt suicide.

Overall, the risk of postpartum suicide was markedly higher among women who'd been hospitalized with a psychiatric disorder, substance abuse problem or both 5 years before giving birth.

Such diagnoses are "clearly important risk factors" of which families and medical providers should be aware.