Madison life - health + fitness: 10.12.09

The bizarre death of "shy, modest and gentle" PA Rebekah Lawrence, who stripped naked in her office before jumping out of a second-storey window, was caused by a psychosis developed during a self-help course, a NSW coroner has found.

In announcing his findings at the inquest into her death, Deputy State Coroner Malcolm MacPherson recommended that the NSW government enact more stringent legislation requiring that practioners of similar courses hold qualifications in a medical discipline in line with the profession of psychology. MacPherson also recommended the establishment of a system of registration.

Noting the "intrinsically unsafe" use of childhood regression in the self-development course attended by Lawrence, he laid the blame for her behaviour on the courses's organisation, saying that her final act "was the tragic culmination of a developing psychosis that had its origins in a self-development course known as 'the Turning Point'".

Lawrence had no history of drug use and no alcohol or traces of drugs were found in her system after her death. Her husband has said he has not ruled out taking legal action against People Knowhow, the company who ran the program.