Citation

Cantwell R, Cox JL. Current Obstetrics and Gynaecology 2006; 16(1): 14-20.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2006)

DOI

10.1016/j.curobgyn.2005.11.001

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Suicide is the leading cause of maternal death in the UK. Recognising risk factors for major postnatal mental illness and distinguishing between normal emotional changes and psychiatric disorder during pregnancy is critical in routine antenatal care. Changes in prescribing practices in psychiatry may have implications for childbearing women. Recent developments in screening and prevention and recommendations arising from the Confidential Enquiries into Maternal Deaths will help achieve best practice in caring for mentally ill women during pregnancy and in the early postnatal period. There is a need for such issues to be routinely included in the professional training of obstetric, midwifery, primary care and psychiatric staff.

Language: en

Keywords

human; Depression; suicide; Pregnancy; bipolar disorder; United Kingdom; depression; screening; schizophrenia; anxiety; Screening; Pharmacotherapy; risk factor; maternal mortality; pregnancy; review; substance abuse; mental disease; personality disorder; psychotropic agent; prenatal care; puerperal depression; puerperal psychosis; breast feeding; Mental illness; adjustment disorder; Puerperal psychosis; phobia; pregnancy outcome; puerperium; pregnancy termination; hyperemesis gravidarum