Yalini K. 2026 | BASIS Independent McLean
- Project Title: From Birth to Breakdown: Postpartum Illnesses and Their Link to Schizophrenia Onset
- BASIS Independent Advisor: Rob Biemesderfer
Schizophrenia is a psychological disorder whose origins remain largely elusive. Research has revealed that various genetic and environmental factors contribute to its development, but it is hard to pinpoint exactly what triggers its onset. As research on schizophrenia has become more prominent in recent years, focus has also shifted to possible psychological comorbidities in relation to schizophrenia. The comorbidity of interest that this project will examine is postpartum disorders and schizophrenia. Through reviewing existing medical and psychiatric research on postpartum disorders and their neurobiological links to Schizophrenia, and analyzing case studies and clinical data that document instances of postpartum-related psychotic breaks leading to Schizophrenia diagnoses, my research aims to uncover how postpartum mental illnesses function as potential triggering events for the onset of schizophrenia.
