Review of patients admitted to a specialist inpatient parent-infant psychiatric service.
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 comorbidities were a physical health problem (35%), substance abuse (24%) or borderline personality disorder (15%). The average length-of-stay was 23.8 ± 15.5 days; the average baby's age at admission was 15.1 ± 11.6 weeks. There were no statistically significant differences between women with a history of a mood disorder and those with no such history, in any of the demographic or psychosocial variables evaluated.


CONCLUSIONS
This paper provides a unique appraisal of those individuals actively seeking psychiatric assessment and treatment through a specialist perinatal psychiatric service. Such information is useful in promoting better understanding of this population and the complex treatment and management needs of this patient group.
Austin Health, Heidelberg, VIC, Australia.
Revi
R
Nair
Justin
J
Bilszta
Nadia
N
Shafira
Nilam
N
Salam
Anne
A
Buist
D000328:Adult; D002662:Child Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007297:Inpatients / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008430:Maternal-Child Health Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*