What was the verdict in Commonwealth v. Lindsay Clancy?

No verdict as of Aug 31, 2026. Trial ran July 29 – Aug 28, 2026 in Plymouth Superior Court. Jury began deliberations Aug 28 and is still deliberating. Possible outcomes: guilty, manslaughter, or not guilty by reason of lack of criminal responsibility (McHoul).

What is the McHoul standard?

Under Commonwealth v. McHoul, 352 Mass. 544 (1967), a person is not criminally responsible if, as a result of mental disease or defect, they lacked substantial capacity to appreciate wrongfulness or conform conduct to law. Burden on Commonwealth beyond reasonable doubt.

Where can I watch the trial?

Each of the 14 transcript pages links its YouTube court recording via Court TV / Law&Crime / PBS NewsHour. No Rev.com paywall. See /transcripts and /media.

APA Resources on Postpartum Psychosis

Source: American Psychiatric Association (APA)

URL: https://www.psychiatry.org/news-room/apa-blogs/pregnancy-and-mental-health-conditions

Date: August 31, 2023

Overview

An estimated one in five childbearing persons in the U.S. experience a mental or substance use disorder before, during, or after pregnancy each year. With support from the CDC Foundation, APA has developed a series of educational materials for addressing perinatal mental health.

APA Perinatal Mental Health Toolkit

This toolkit includes four fact sheets for patients:

1. For people planning to become pregnant

2. For pregnant persons

3. For postpartum people

4. Suggestions for preparing for medical appointments

Key Statistics

About 15% of mothers experience postpartum psychiatric conditions like depression, anxiety or psychosis

Early diagnosis and management of postpartum mental health and substance use conditions are vital for the health of the mother and the baby

These mental health conditions can significantly impact all aspects of a mother's life and interactions, including with the infant, partner and family

APA Position Statement on Screening and Treatment

Approved by the Board of Trustees, December 2025; Approved by the Assembly, November 2025

Issue

Mood and/or anxiety disorders in the antenatal and postnatal periods is high in the United States and has become a serious public health problem:

Among women and postpartum, 1 out of 7–10 who are pregnant and 1 out of 5–8 who are postpartum will develop a depressive and/or anxiety disorder

1 out of 1,000 will develop a psychotic disorder

The incidence of these disorders is highest among those with a history or family history of depression, with few social supports, with concurrent substance abuse, domestic violence, and/or with a low socioeconomic status

APA Position

It is the position of the APA that perinatal patients should receive mental health screening and assessment. Treatment and support, which include addressing social determinants of health, domestic violence and systemic stressors, should be provided when needed. Current knowledge regarding the evidence-based approaches to the treatment of patients who are pregnant and postpartum, including the risks of no treatment or under treatment, should be widely disseminated.

Research on Familial Risk of Postpartum Psychosis

A 2025 study published in the American Journal of Psychiatry examined the risk for postpartum psychosis among women with a sister who had experienced the condition:

Study looked at records of more than 1.6 million women from Swedish nationwide registers

Among them, 0.15% (2,514) experienced postpartum psychosis within three months of their first-ever childbirth

A woman is more than 10 times more likely to develop postpartum psychosis if her sister had the condition

The presence of bipolar disorder in a sister doubles the risk of developing postpartum psychosis

Women with a sister with bipolar disorder and postpartum psychosis are at highest risk; their risk is 14 times increased

These findings support the view that even though there is overlap between postpartum psychosis and bipolar disorder, these are distinct conditions

While the risk is significantly higher among full siblings, the absolute risk is still relatively low, estimated at 1.60% within the entire population

Postpartum Psychosis: A Preventable Psychiatric Emergency

Published in FOCUS (APA Journal), 2024

Postpartum psychosis is the most severe psychiatric disorder associated with childbirth. Although rare, it is considered a psychiatric emergency that warrants immediate medical attention and inpatient care to ensure safety, complete diagnostic evaluation, and treatment initiation.

Key Points

Postpartum psychosis is not a separate diagnosis in DSM-5 but rather exists as a specifier

Studies vary as to whether it is considered a separate disorder or a variant of schizophrenia or bipolar disorder

The clinical presentation can include symptoms of mood disorder, psychosis, and/or delirium

Early identification and treatment is key to minimizing risks and preventing negative consequences

Treatment Approaches

Pharmacological management: Second-generation antipsychotics and lithium are commonly recommended

ECT: Effective for rapid clinical improvement in mania, severe depression, catatonia, and psychotic disorder

Prevention: Lithium has the strongest evidence of efficacy in preventing mood episodes and psychosis when started in pregnancy or postpartum

APA Educational Materials for Providers

The APA toolkit also includes resources aimed at mental health practitioners, comprising:

Four factsheets

A white paper highlighting the link between untreated perinatal mental health issues and adverse outcomes

A series of four webinars

The white paper stresses the need for better screening, prevention, and treatment for perinatal mental and substance disorders. Training gaps in behavioral health professionals affecting perinatal outcomes are highlighted, with recommendations for improved education and credentialing.

Additional Resources

APA Perinatal Mental Health Toolkit: https://www.psychiatry.org/psychiatrists/practice/professional-interests/women-s-mental-health/maternal-mental-health-toolkit

National Institute on Mental Health: https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics

National Institute on Drug Abuse: https://nida.nih.gov/publications/drugfacts/substance-use-in-women