Postpartum psychosis highlighted as Massachusetts mother’s trial begins
The murder trial of Lindsay Clancy has renewed focus on postpartum psychosis, with a survivor describing her own experience and experts warning that the condition is often missed by clinicians.
As the murder trial of Massachusetts mother Lindsay Clancy proceeds, attention has turned to postpartum psychosis, a rare psychiatric emergency that can emerge within days of childbirth. Clancy, 36, has pleaded not guilty to the killings of her three children in January 2023 and is expected to claim the illness impaired her judgment, while prosecutors argue the acts were intentional.
Aaisha Alvi, who survived a severe episode of postpartum psychosis nearly two decades ago, recounted her ordeal to illustrate how the disorder can be overlooked. After giving birth in 2002, Alvi experienced intense anxiety, depression, and delusions that her husband intended to harm their infant. She later heard a commanding voice urging her to stab her daughter and saw graphic visual hallucinations. Multiple doctors dismissed her symptoms, prescribing medication for panic attacks without further evaluation.
Alvi’s condition resurfaced after a miscarriage, leading her to seek help again. This time, a perinatal psychiatrist recognized the signs of postpartum psychosis and prescribed a low dose of antipsychotic medication, which she said halted the hallucinations within weeks. She has not experienced another psychotic episode since.
Dr. Uruj Haider, a perinatal psychiatrist, explained that postpartum psychosis can develop rapidly and present with “pink-flag” symptoms such as irritability, disorganized thinking, and rapid speech, which are often mistaken for normal postpartum fatigue. The disorder affects an estimated 1-2 per 1,000 births, and about half of cases occur in women with no prior psychiatric history.
Experts stress the importance of early specialist referral and, when necessary, emergency care to protect both mother and child. Alvi now advocates for greater awareness, speaking publicly and authoring a memoir to give language to the illness.
“If my doctor had not spent the time that she spent with me, I would not be alive today, and my daughter would not be alive today,” Alvi said.
“If there’s any concern from the patient, the partner or family members, get that mom connected to a psychiatric clinician as soon as possible,” Haider advised.
The trial’s outcome may influence public and policy discussions about how health systems identify and treat postpartum psychosis, aiming to prevent future tragedies.