§ Dr. Stuttafordasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many women were treated in National Health Service hospitals for post-natal depression during 1969, 1970, 1971 and 1972; and what proportion these represent of the number of births in each year.
§ Mr. AlisonI regret that the information is not available. Statistics of admissions to National Health Service psychiatric hospitals and units by diagnosis on admission are analysed in accordance with the International Classification of Diseases (8th Revision) which does not recognise "post-natal depression" as a separate condition. Psychosis associated with childbirth (294.4) is identified as a separate disorder but this code is only used for conditions arising within six weeks of childbirth—and at present statistics are only readily available for the broad diagnostic group "other psychoses" which includes not64W only psychosis associated with childbirth but other psychiatric conditions.