Since the end of January 2020, covid-19 is a group A infectious disease according to the Public Health Act (in Dutch: Wet publiekegezondheid or Wpg). To avert the risk of infection with covid-19, coercive measures can be imposed under this law. Almost at the same time, since January 1 2020, two new Dutch laws regulate the mandatory care for people with intellectual disability and dementia (the Care and Compulsion Act (in Dutch: Wet zorgendwang or Wzd) and for people with a mental disorder (the Mandatory Mental Health Care Act (in Dutch: Wet verplichte GGZ or Wvggz).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWhat Is Known On The Subject: If women suffer from postpartum psychosis, treatment in a specialist facility like a psychiatric mother-baby unit is recommended and should focus on the maternal health, mother-baby outcomes and the care for the next of kin. The role of mental health nurses on a mother-baby unit is essential but challenging, given the complex problems and care needs of the patient, the baby and family members. To date, very little evidence about effective nursing interventions for patients with postpartum psychosis is available.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: Postpartum psychosis is an acute and severe mood disorder. Although the prognosis is generally good, postpartum psychosis is a highly stressful life-event presumed to have a major impact on functioning and well-being beyond the acute stage of the illness. We studied functional recovery, including psychosocial functioning and the presence of psychological distress, in patients with a recent diagnosis of postpartum psychosis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCompetent patients have the right to refuse treatment and healthcare workers should acknowledge their wishes. In the Netherlands there are conflicting (constitutional) rights of the foetus and of mentally ill patients. This paper describes the legal and ethical problems in the case of a mentally ill patient at 37 weeks of pregnancy who refused an obstetric examination.
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