Vignette Number GAP 02
Speciality:
General Psychiatry/Child Psychiatry
Date:
10 October 2001
Vignette:
The A & E Department has asked you as the Duty Psychiatrist,
to assess a 32-year old woman, who has presented in a dishevelled
state and is behaving oddly. She is clutching an infant who appears
to have a number of bruises.
How would you assess and manage this situation?
Suggested Probes:
- How would you tackle any risk to the child?
- Who else would you involve?
- What impact might mother's clinical state have on the
child?
- Child protection issues - including issues around
confidentiality and disclosure.
- Child Protection procedures, involving Social Services and
Paediatrics.
- Some knowledge of nature and injuries in physical abuse.
- Likely diagnoses and management plans for mother.
- Mother's ability to care for the child including the impact of
clinical features/diagnosis on child.