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Compare two specifiers

Find the deciding clinical difference.

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Is the central pattern “mood-episode onset around pregnancy or birth” or “delusions or hallucinations within a mood episode”?

Peripartum onset

A mood episode begins during pregnancy or in the period soon after birth.

Course and onset

Psychotic features

Delusions or hallucinations occur during a severe mood episode and require explicit risk and diagnostic review.

Episode features

Clinical focus

AMood-episode onset around pregnancy or birth

BDelusions or hallucinations within a mood episode

Time course

ADefined by episode onset, not simply current parenting status

BMapped directly against mood-episode onset and remission

Look for

AOnset timing, bipolar indicators, psychosis, sleep loss, safety and support

BConviction, perceptual disturbance, behavioural impact, congruence

Do not overcall from

ADo not treat all post-birth distress as unipolar depression

BSevere guilt, rumination, or intrusive thoughts are not automatically psychotic

Example wording

Major depressive disorder, single episode, with peripartum onset

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Example wording

Major depressive disorder, current episode, severe with psychotic features

Open full guide

Browse the map Build diagnostic wording

Side-by-side review

Compare two specifiers

Find the deciding clinical difference.

Ask this

Is the central pattern “mood-episode onset around pregnancy or birth” or “delusions or hallucinations within a mood episode”?

Peripartum onset

A mood episode begins during pregnancy or in the period soon after birth.

Course and onset

Psychotic features

Delusions or hallucinations occur during a severe mood episode and require explicit risk and diagnostic review.

Episode features

Clinical focus

AMood-episode onset around pregnancy or birth

BDelusions or hallucinations within a mood episode

Time course

ADefined by episode onset, not simply current parenting status

BMapped directly against mood-episode onset and remission

Look for

AOnset timing, bipolar indicators, psychosis, sleep loss, safety and support

BConviction, perceptual disturbance, behavioural impact, congruence

Do not overcall from

ADo not treat all post-birth distress as unipolar depression

BSevere guilt, rumination, or intrusive thoughts are not automatically psychotic

Example wording

Major depressive disorder, single episode, with peripartum onset

Open full guide

Example wording

Major depressive disorder, current episode, severe with psychotic features

Open full guide

Browse the map Build diagnostic wording