Menstrual Psychosis
This is a comparatively uncommon form of severe mental illness, with the following characteristics:
- Abrupt onset against a background of normality.
- Brief duration, with full recovery.
- Psychotic features such as confusion, mutism and stupor, delusions, hallucinations or a manic syndrome. Premenstrual tension, premenstrual syndrome, premenstrual (late luteal phase) depression or dysphoric disorder or menstrual mood disorder do not qualify.
- A circa-mensual (approximately monthly) periodicity, in rhythm with the menstrual cycle.
Read more about Menstrual Psychosis: History, Examples, Clinical Features, Epidemiology, Course, Cause, Treatment
Famous quotes containing the words menstrual and/or psychosis:
“Virginity is now a mere preamble or waiting room to be got out of as soon as possible; it is without significance. Old age is similarly a waiting room, where you go after life’s over and wait for cancer or a stroke. The years before and after the menstrual years are vestigial: the only meaningful condition left to women is that of fruitfulness.”
—Ursula K. Le Guin (b. 1929)
“My safe, safe psychosis is broken.
It was hard.
It was made of stone.
It covered my face like a mask.
But it has cracked.”
—Anne Sexton (1928–1974)