Perinatal Psychiatric Disorders: a Leading Cause of Maternal Morbidity and Mortality

This article reports the findings of the Confidential Enquiry into Maternal Deaths 1997 to 1999, showing that suicide is the leading cause of maternal death. The author highlights how the profile for women at risk of suicide following delivery may be different from that of women at other times & from men. Findings indicated that risk may be elevated for the first 42 days following delivery, that maternal suicides are much more likely to die violently, & are older & socially advantaged compared to other causes of maternal death. Implications for practice are explored. (20 refs)