Abstract
Units to admit psychiatrically ill mothers with their babies to psychiatric hospitals were pioneered follow ing Main's description (1958) of the treatment of mothers with their children at the Cassel Hospital. Particular interest in puerperal psychosis and dis orders of bonding and attachment led to units usually providing for babies below six or 12months. Suggesting older infants should also be admitted, Main referred to the benefits in admitting parents to paediatric wards with ill children, and described how toddlers had been admitted with their mothers at the Cassel. Another early unit at Banstead Hospital cared for schizophrenic mothers with their babies and found that joint admissions lead to faster recovery, lower relapse rates and more babies continuing to live with their mothers (Baker et al, 1961).
Highlights
Joint admission can be used as an opportunity for mothers to learn how to live with and enjoy their children, (Grunebaum et al (1963)
A questionnaire was devised to ask about the exist ence of mother and baby units, local resources to treat mothers and babies and physical resources to help the family to keep in contact with the patient at the time of admission
Mother and baby units existed at 38 hospitals
Summary
Units to admit psychiatrically ill mothers with their binagbieMs atoinp'ssydcehsicartripictiohnosp(i1ta9l5s8w) eorfe pthioenetreeraetdmfeonltlowof mothers with their children at the Cassel Hospital. Suggest ing older infants should be admitted, Main referred to the benefits in admitting parents to paediatric wards with ill children, and described how toddlers had been admitted with their mothers at the Cassel. Another early unit at Banstead Hospital cared for schizophrenic mothers with their babies and found that joint admissions lead to faster recov ery, lower relapse rates and more babies continuing to live with their mothers (Baker et al, 1961). Aware of difficulties in this area of practice, we were interested to find out whether facilities had progressed and to consider the provision of other facilities for families on psychiatric admission wards
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
