Some Implications of the Sleep Patterns of Pregnancy for Postpartum Emotional Disturbances

Emotional disturbance during pregnancy and the postpartum period is very common and at times leads to serious psychotic reactions. Studies comparing the relative frequency of psychotic breakdown in women during pregnancy or postpartum, or at other times, indicate that there is a greater frequency of psychotic reaction in the postpartum period (Pugh et al., 1963; Ryle, 1961; Tobin, 1957; Strecker and Ebaugh, 1926; Richardson and Guttmacher, 1967).