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The Risk of Child Abuse among Mothers who Attempt Suicide

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2018

Keith Hawton ,
Jacqueline Roberts  and
Guy Goodwin
Keith Hawton*
Affiliation:
Warneford Hospital, Oxford OX3 7JH
Jacqueline Roberts
Affiliation:
Adoption and Fostering Unit, Lambeth Social Services, London SW4 7TB, Formerly Research Social Worker, Park Hospital for Children, Oxford OX3 7LD
Guy Goodwin
Affiliation:
University Department of Psychiatry, Warneford Hospital
*
∗Correspondence
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Summary

The association between parental attempted suicide and child abuse was investigated in 114 mothers with children aged five years and under, referred to a general hospital following suicide attempts. The risk was greatly increased in the attempted suicide mothers, compared with both similar mothers at risk for depression and general population control mothers; well-documented risk of child abuse was identified in 29.8% of those who attempted suicide. No major differences were found between the attempted suicide mothers whose children were at risk and those whose children were not at risk. During the general hospital assessment of mothers with young children who attempt suicide, careful enquiry concerning the relationship with the children is essential

Type
Research Article
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 146 , Issue 5 , May 1985 , pp. 486 - 489
Copyright
Copyright © 1985 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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