Complex PTSD in Postpartum mothers
| Key things to know | What the evidence shows |
|---|---|
| How common is it? | Not established general postpartum population |
| Is it more common among postpartum mothers? | Parenting/birth transition may reactivate existing trauma, but prevalence evidence sparse |
| Are postpartum mothers at higher risk? | Prior trauma, birth trauma and parenting transition may exacerbate symptoms |
| How much higher is the risk? | Not established general population |
| How often can it be missed? | High |
| Does it show up differently among postpartum mothers? | Yes contextually |
| How might it look different? | Infant dependency, crying, sleep loss and physical intimacy/care demands may activate attachment/trauma patterns |
| What commonly occurs alongside it? | Depression; anxiety; dissociation |
| What can it be confused with? | PTSD; postpartum depression; BPD; postpartum OCD |
| Common screening tool | ITQ |
| Separate screening tool for postpartum mothers | None established |
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