One hundred and nine consultant psychiatrists completed an anonymous questionnaire on the suicide of patients in their care. A patient suicide was reported by 82%, of whom 47% had experienced their first patient suicide within five years of entering psychiatric practice. A formal review of the suicide had occurred In 24% of cases. The study examines the perceived effects of their first patient suicide on the professional practice of the respondents, and measures the personal stress related to It, using the Impact of EventScale. We discuss the implications of this common experience for psychiatric training programmes.
The precise etiology of autism remains unclear. Obstetric adversity has been described as one factor that may increase the risk for the disorder. We examined the contemporaneous birth records of 49 children satisfying DSM-III-R criteria for autistic disorder, at four Dublin maternity hospitals, using the previous same-sex live birth in that hospital as a control. Data were evaluated blind to subject status using two obstetric complication (OC) rating scales. No significant differences in obstetric adversity were found between index and control groups. Autistic individuals did not differ from controls in terms of previously described risk factors for this disorder (maternal age, maternal parity, birth order, and low birth weight) in autism. These data do not support the view that OCs increase the risk for later autism.
Objectives: To estimate the prevalence of postnatal depression in a community sample of women in a disadvantaged urban area in West Dublin, and to examine the factors which may be associated with it.Method: All women who had a live birth in the area over a one year period were identified (944) and the self-rated Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) was distributed to those who could be contacted by the public health nurses. Those scoring in the depressed range (> 12) were compared to non-depressed for age, marital status, employment, parity, presence of a confidant, mode of delivery, previous miscarriage and previous psychiatric history.Results: Contact was made with 596 women and 377 responded. Responders were older and more likely to be first time mothers, but there was no significant difference between responders and eligible population for marital status. One hundred and eight women (28.6%) scored in the depressed range. Ten sociodemographic and clinical variables were entered into a logistic regression. Scores over the threshold (> 12), suggesting clinical depression, were significantly associated with four variables, lower age, absence of a confidant, previous miscarriage and previous treatment for depression by a GP.Conclusions: A high prevalence of postnatal depression of 28.6% was reported, which may be associated with overall high levels of social disadvantage in this sample. There were implications for the targeting of resources into such areas. The associated factors are discussed.
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