Case example 4. Clinical example of maternal suicide20
| A woman took her life by violent means in her third trimester. She had a previous history of anxiety and depression, with depression in a previous postnatal period. She had been prescribed venlafaxine prior to the pregnancy to good effect, but it was stopped on discovering the pregnancy. No alternative was suggested and there does not appear to have been any specialist service within her area. |
| She developed worsening anxiety, and then depression, with a range of physical complaints, poor coping and suicidal ideation. As her symptoms worsened, she was referred to a low intensity psychological therapies service. She returned to her general practitioner (GP) asking to restart her previously effective venlafaxine. It is clear from the consultation notes that her GP was very reluctant to prescribe and placed responsibility for the decision entirely on the woman, documenting an explanation of the risks, but not the benefits, of taking medication. She died a week later on the day she was due to undergo a mental health assessment. |