Psychodynamics versus endocrinology in postpartum psychosis: A critique of the diminished capacity test in infanticide cases

Postpartum psychosis has been suspected by many medical and mental health experts to a be a precipitating factor of infanticide. This paper addresses this disorder from historical, psychodynamic, and biogenic perspectives, and includes a review of clinical literature. The disorder is then made relevant to the diminished capacity test in criminal adjudications of infanticide cases. This includes a legislative history and discussion of the British approach. Then diminished capacity and the “British model” are critiques taking into account the confusion over postpartum psychosis’ etiology.