Psychiatric illness in relation to pregnancy and childbirth II. Diagnostic profiles, psychosocial and perinatal aspects

Abstract

A nationwide study has been carried out linking the National Birth Register and the National Psychiatric Register, using the identification of the mother as linkage. The study comprises all women who during the period from 1 January 1973 to 31 December 1983 gave birth to a child and who during a period from 2 years before to 2 years after the childbirth were admitted to a Danish psychiatric institution. Data are presented about admission patterns for psychotic and non-psychotic women, diagnostic consistency over time, age, parity, civil status, and birth weight and malformation in the child.

Key Words:

• Paranatal mental disorders
• Perinatal stress
• Psychiatric admission
• Psychosocial stress
• Register study