Feasibility of a large-scale, international, clinical-genetic study of postpartum psychosis (360G-Wellcome-217500_Z_19_Z)

Postpartum psychosis represents a unique opportunity to study the effects of reproductive factors on the human brain. One of the most severe and dramatic psychiatric illnesses, it affects ~1 in 1000 women soon after childbirth, in many cases unexpectedly.Genetic factors may be involved, but its causes remain poorly understood. The lack of official recognition and definition have hindered research and negatively impacted sufferers. For the first time this project will harness pre-existing international collaborations and datasets to establish cross-culturally valid definitions and standards of assessment of postpartum psychosis and create a pipeline for data acquisition, quality control and harmonization. Genome-wide analyses will provide metrics and preliminary evidence for a larger study. New collaborations and additional datasets will be sought. This study will lay the foundation for a postpartum psychosis international consortium. It will provide data beyond the lifetime of the funding and a robust, systematic approach to uncover the biology of psychosis triggered by childbirth. It will potentially give clues into new, fast-track targets for translational and pharmacological research and improve risk prediction. Moreover, it will contribute to the de-stigmatization of mental disorders related to female reproduction by providing evidence-based, accessible information to the public.