Review of patients admitted to a specialist inpatient parent-infant psychiatric service

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this paper is to review the clinical, demographic and psychosocial characteristics of consecutive admissions to a specialist inpatient parent-infant psychiatric service during a 2-year period. Methods: Data from consecutive admissions between January 2006 and December 2007 were evaluated in terms of primary and secondary diagnosis, demographics and psychosocial risk, psychiatric history, referral source, inpatient care and child protection involvement. Results: The majority of admissions (n = 149) recorded during the audit period were for a major depressive disorder (n = 69; 46%), schizophrenia (n = 29; 19%) or postnatal psychosis (n = 19; 13%); the most common comorbid..