Postpartum Personality Disorders
This chapter on personality disorders in the postpartum reviews the impact on the well-being of the mother and the infant if the mother suffers from a pre-existing personality disorder. Borderline personality disorders may have a negative impact on the new mother’s ability to form a healthy relationship with the infant and may become frustrated easily frustrated if the infant doesn’t obey. Women with dependent personality disorders may feel needy, helpless, and indecisive and therefore feel overwhelmed with motherhood. New mothers with paranoid personality disorders feel generally distrusting and suspicious. They may reject the health-care worker’s advice, thereby putting the infant at risk. Working with the mother–infant dyad is essential.