Early Discharge with Home Follow-up: Impacts on Low-Income Mothers and Infants

Low-income mothers and infants discharged at 24 to 47 hours after birth were compared to two control groups: early discharge with infant separation and conventional discharge. No differences among the three groups in maternal or infant morbidity at seven to 15 days postdelivery were recorded. Simultaneous early discharge was associated with higher maternal attachment scores, fewer maternal concerns, and greater maternal satisfaction with discharge type than early discharge with infant separation. All three groups had substantial morbidity in the first two weeks of life. A shorter hospital stay and more health monitoring postdischarge may be a better use of health resources than a conventional hospital stay for low-income mothers and their infants.     

Delusions of Pregnancy in the Elderly

We present five case reports of elderly ladies with delusions of pregnancy. This symptom is discussed with reference to the cases and a review of the literature. © 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Genotype does not predict severity of behavioural phenotype in juvenile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (Batten disease)

Aim The primary aim of this investigation was to examine genotype and clinical phenotype differences in individuals with juvenile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (JNCL) who were homozygous for a common disease‐causing deletion or compound heterozygous. The secondary aim was to cross‐validate the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) and the Unified Batten Disease Rating Scale (UBDRS), a disease‐specific JNCL rating scale. Method Sixty individuals (28 males, 32 females; mean age 15y 1mo, SD 4y 9mo, range 5y 8mo–31y 1mo) with JNCL completed the UBDRS. Results No significant genotype and clinical phenotype differences were identified when comparing individuals homozygous for the deletion with a heterogeneous group of compound heterozygous individuals. There were significant correlations among related behaviour items and scales on the CBCL and UBDRS (Spearman’s rho ranging from 0.39 [p<0.05] to 0.72 [p<0.01]). Behaviour and physical function ratings were uncorrelated, supporting divergent validity of these two constructs in JNCL. Interpretation Previous reports of genotype and clinical phenotype differences were unsupported in this investigation, which did not find differences between individuals homozygous or heterozygous for the CLN3 deletion. The CBCL, an already validated measure of behaviour problems, appears valid for use in JNCL and cross‐validates well with the UBDRS.