Hospitalized Pregnant Psychotic Women: Characteristics and Treatment Issues

The medical records of 35 pregnant women hospitalized for nonorganic, psychotic symptoms were reviewed to determine their demographic and psychosocial characteristics as well as patterns of assessment, treatment, and disposition. The review showed that the majority of the women had been hospitalized five times or more and lacked social and economic supports. Almost two-thirds had had two or more pregnancies, but only two were living with their children. The review also showed that the basic issues of birth control methods and infant custody rights were not addressed by the hospital treatment program. The authors urge that discussions of birth control methods be included in the treatment plans of pregnant psychotic patients and that recommendations regarding infant custody be recorded in the patients' charts.