A Fatal Case of Factitious Aplastic Anemia.

We report the case of a 26-year-old female who intentionally ingested busulfan, an oral chemotherapy agent, to induce severe aplastic anemia. The patient was initially thought to be suffering from idiopathic aplastic anemia, before clues suggesting the diagnosis of a factitious disorder were identified. The patient underwent a bone marrow transplant and ultimately died 5 weeks later following a lengthy admission to the intensive care unit.

A retrospective audit of joint mother-baby admissions to the Werribee Mercy mother and baby unit (MBU) and of the severity of maternal depression over the course of admission.

Objectives: This study examined (i) the demographic and illness profiles of mothers admitted to Werribee Mercy MBU in Victoria, Australia and (ii) the severity of maternal depressive symptoms over the course of admission.

Method: A retrospective audit was conducted on consecutively admitted mother-baby dyads between January 2011 and June 2015. Routinely collected maternal Beck Depression Inventory, second edition (BDI-II) scores were analysed for severity and change.

An update on medication management of women with schizophrenia in pregnancy.

Introduction: Women with schizophrenia and their babies are at high risk of adverse outcomes in pregnancy and childbirth. A better understanding of the specific risks conferred by the illness itself and by the treatment provided will help guide more effective care of these women.

Areas Covered: Herein, the authors review enetic, demographic, socioeconomic, nutritional and lifestyle risks associated with schizophrenia in pregnancy.

Improvement in depression with oestrogen treatment in women with schizophrenia.

Women with schizophrenia are often noted to suffer with comorbid depression. Many studies have shown associations between fluctuating oestrogen levels in the brain and mental illness. This study investigates the effect of oestradiol treatment on comorbid depressive symptoms in women with schizophrenia.

How self-inflicted injury and gender impacted the outcome following a severe burn.

Background: A high prevalence of self-inflicted burn injury is noted in severe burn injury. It remains unclear as to whether gender and past psychiatric history impact upon whether injury is self-inflicted and the outcomes.

Aims: Review the psychiatric history of patients treated in a statewide burn service following severe burn injury and determine whether psychiatric history, extent of burn and mortality are impacted by gender and whether the injury was self-inflicted.

Consultation-liaison psychiatry in a maternity hospital.

Objective: The aim of the study was to describe referral patterns of maternity inpatients to the consultation-liaison psychiatry (CLP) service at a large women's hospital in metropolitan Melbourne, Australia.

Method: Clinicians recorded socio-demographic data, referring unit, consultee's reason for referral, psychiatric diagnosis made, and treatment provided for all maternity inpatients referred from 2004 to 2008.

Results: Main reasons for referral were detection of depression, past psychiatric history, and concern regarding a woman's coping.