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The British Journal of Psychiatry (2001) 178: 427-432
© 2001 The Royal College of Psychiatrists

Psychosocial characteristics and needs of mothers with psychotic disorders

LOUISE M. HOWARD, MRCPsych

Sections of Community Psychiatry (PRiSM) and Perinatal Psychiatry

R. KUMAR, FRCPsych

Section of Perinatal Psychiatry

GRAHAM THORNICROFT, MRCPsych

Section of Community Psychiatry (PRiSM), Institute of Psychiatry, London

Correspondence: Dr L. M. Howard, Sections of Community Psychiatry (PRiSM) and Perinatal Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, De Crespigny Park, London SE5 8AF

Declaration of interest L. M. H. was funded by the Wellcome Trust as part of a Wellcome Trust Research Training Fellowship in health services research.

Background It is not known whether mothers with psychotic disorders are clinically and socially distinct from women with psychoses who have not had children.

Aims To determine the proportion of mothers in an epidemiologically representative population of women with psychotic disorders, to examine the factors associated with having children, and to examine the factors associated with having children ‘looked after’ by social services.

Method Descriptive analysis and two case—control studies.

Results Sixty-three per cent of women with psychotic disorders were mothers. There were no clinical differences between women with or without children, but mothers were more likely to be older and live in unsupported accommodation. Having had a ‘looked after’ child was associated with Mental Health Act detention, younger age, a forensic history and being Black African.

Conclusion Many women with psychoses are mothers. Mothers with psychoses are as disabled and have as many needs as women with psychoses without children.


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