Understanding Postpartum Psychosis: A Personal Story and Broader Perspective

In December 2015, Meghan Cliffel, a working mother in New York City, faced a life-changing crisis. Just eight months after giving birth to her second daughter, Meghan recalls experiencing high work stress. Outwardly, she appeared functional, but her reality shifted dramatically on December 4, 2015.

That day, Meghan believed she was under surveillance. She describes becoming lost in a frightening and delusional reality, thinking the entire city was against her. Hallucinations followed; she recalled seeing a male relative’s face on the TV, threatening her survival.

The crisis deeply affected her family. Her husband, Colin, felt as if he was interacting with an entirely different person. Meghan’s behavior was unprecedented, involving attempts to rescue their daughters and threats to leave the apartment. Colin, in a moment of desperation, called 911.

Meghan was admitted to Bellevue Hospital, spending two weeks there and receiving a postpartum psychosis diagnosis. This condition, as explained by Dr. Veerle Bergink, a psychiatrist specializing in women’s health, is a psychiatric emergency, distinct from postpartum depression. Symptoms can include mania, racing thoughts, and severe depression.

“Suicide is a major cause of mortality in such cases, though infanticide is extremely rare,” says Dr. Bergink.

The condition affected the high-profile trial of Lindsay Clancy, accused of killing her children in 2023. The trial ended in a mistrial due to arguments about her mental state and the nature of her psychosis.

Annually, an estimated 1 to 2 women per 1,000 births in the U.S. experience postpartum psychosis, affecting up to 9,000 mothers. Dr. Bergink notes fewer than 10 research groups focus on this illness in the U.S., highlighting a research gap.

Symptoms can shift rapidly, confusing both family and clinicians. Dr. Jennifer Payne, a reproductive psychiatrist, emphasizes the rarity and often unseen nature of postpartum psychosis in clinical practice. She advocates for better public and legal understanding of the condition.

“Cases with clear postpartum psychosis should not proceed to murder trials but be addressed through mental health treatment,” Dr. Payne suggests.

Three years after overcoming her crisis, Meghan and Colin had another child, deciding on preventative medication. Meghan used Lithium as a precaution, leading to a positive postpartum experience with her third child.

Meghan’s story, shared amidst the attention on the Lindsay Clancy trial, aims to highlight the reality and seriousness of postpartum psychosis. She stresses the importance of addressing and treating this mental illness without shame, as recovery is possible.

For those in emotional distress or crisis, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available by calling or texting 988. More mental health support can be accessed through the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) HelpLine at 1-800-950-NAMI (6264) or by emailing [email protected].

For additional resources, visit Dr. Veerle Bergink at Mount Sinai’s Women’s Mental Health Center and Dr. Jennifer Payne at the University of Virginia School of Medicine.