Deaths From Psychiatric Causes (IN: Why Mothers die 1997-1998: the Fifth Report of the Confidential Enquiries into Maternal Deaths in the United Kingdom)

This chapter discusses maternal deaths in the United Kingdom resulting from psychiatric causes notified to the Confidential Enquiries into Maternal Deaths in the United Kingdom. The author found that psychiatric disorders are known to have caused or contributed to 12% of maternal deaths, 10% of which were due to suicide. Suicides in this group of women were characterized by their violent nature, & there were marked social class differences between suicide & the other causes of maternal deaths. Recommendations for prevention are made. (10 refs)