The risk of seclusion and the menstrual cycle in female psychiatric patients

van Heeringen, Kees; Ducheyne, Paul; Schollaert, Paul; Verheyen, Robert; Goethals, Kris; Jannes, Stijn

doi:10.1016/0022-3999(95)00003-8

Title

The risk of seclusion and the menstrual cycle in female psychiatric patients

Author

van Heeringen, Kees

Ducheyne, Paul

Schollaert, Paul

Verheyen, Robert

Goethals, Kris

Jannes, Stijn

Abstract

The alleged clinically observed association between the use of seclusion and the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle was studied in 113 consecutively admitted female psychiatric patients by means of a monitoring of oestrogen and progesterone levels, the use of seclusion, age, drug use, regularity of menses, and a history of hysterectomy. Twenty-one patients (18.6%) were in the luteal phase. During the study period, 14 patients (12.4%) had to be secluded. No significant difference in the frequency of seclusion between luteal patients and patients in the other phases could be demonstrated. The findings indicate that the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle is not associated with an increased occurrence of seclusion in female psychiatric patients.

Language

English

Source (journal)

Journal of psychosomatic research. - Oxford

Publication

Oxford : 1995

ISSN

0022-3999

DOI

10.1016/0022-3999(95)00003-8

Volume/pages

39 :5 (1995) , p. 629-632