The SLEEPP Study

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  The Sleep, cLock gEnes and Education in Postpartum Psychosis (SLEEPP) Study

• IRAS ID

  321947

• Contact name

  Dimitrios Siassakos

• Contact email

  d.siasakos@ucl.ac.uk

• Sponsor organisation

  University College London Joint Research Office (JRO)

• Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier

  Z6364106/2023/06/85, UCL Data Protection Registration Number

• Duration of Study in the UK

  2 years, 0 months, 1 days

• Research summary

  Postpartum Psychosis is the most severe form of mental illness associated with childbirth. Symptoms vary, and can change very rapidly. These can include extreme changes in mood, false beliefs, false sensory perceptions and confusion. Psychosis represents a loss of contact with reality and can be an incredibly frightening experience for a new mother and her family. Postpartum Psychosis is a medical emergency, because it can lead to suicide and infanticide.

  Women with Bipolar Disorder are at particularly high risk of developing Postpartum Psychosis, but only a proportion of them will become unwell after having a baby. Whilst there are some recognised risk factors for Postpartum Psychosis, half of cases are "out of the blue" and occur in women with no previous mental health problems.

  With immediate treatment and support, most women who experience Postpartum Psychosis will fully recover. Our research aims to improve early intervention for these women, and we believe the best strategy to achieve this is twofold:
  • By focusing on the earliest and most common symptom: sleep disturbance
  • By empowering maternity staff to deliver safe emergency mental healthcare

  The SLEEPP Study aims to:
  1. Understand whether accurately monitoring sleep after childbirth can help predict who will develop the early signs of Postpartum Psychosis
  2. Compare the genetic makeup of women with Bipolar Disorder who develop Postpartum Psychosis after having a baby and those who do not, with a particular focus on sleep genes
  3. Interview women with lived experience of Postpartum Psychosis to understand if and how sleep disruption played a role in their illness
  4. Assess whether simulation of Postpartum Psychosis by professional actors can be used to train maternity staff effectively
  5. Interview maternity staff to identify common barriers to safe emergency mental healthcare

• REC name

  London - City & East Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  23/LO/0960

• Date of REC Opinion

  17 Jan 2024

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion