Explained: Lindsay Clancy goes on trial over whether postpartum psychosis drove her to kill her 3 children

Lindsay Clancy strangled her three children at their Massachusetts home in January 2023.

postpartum psychosis

A rare mental illness linked to stress, sleep deprivation and hormonal changes after childbirth, which can include hallucinations, delusions and paranoia.

criminal responsibility

A legal determination of whether a defendant can be held accountable for a crime based on their mental state at the time.

not guilty by reason of insanity

A verdict finding that a defendant committed the act but lacked criminal responsibility due to mental illness, leading to commitment rather than prison.

bipolar disorder

A mental health condition causing extreme mood swings, mentioned as one of Clancy's diagnoses.

mitigating factor

A legal consideration that can reduce the severity of a sentence, such as undiagnosed postpartum depression under an Illinois law.