After breastfeeding, the mothers
in the study were found to have both a reduction
in perceived stress and a more
positive mood.
Interpersonal family stress contributes to relationship breakdown and lack of perceived social support, and high expressed emotion may contribute to relapse.21 Family - focused treatment has been shown to reduce recurrence when used as an adjunct to medication for bipolar disorder.38 It is initiated once stabilisation of
mood has been effected
after an acute episode, and includes the patient and at least one significant family member (eg, parent or spouse).39 The underlying focus of family - focused treatment is to provide education regarding the recent illness episode; this includes exploring possible causes and the patient's personal triggers, discussing the importance of medication, differentiating between the person and the illness, and enhancing
positive family relationships.40 Improved
positive communication appears to be a key mechanism
in this approach.38, 41 Recent studies suggest greater benefits
in reducing depressive rather than manic relapses.23, 38,42