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HealthDay 08 July at 03.20 PM

Study Looks at Depression, Stress in Both Parents After Detection of Fetal Anomalies


MONDAY, July 8, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- Prospective parents experience heightened levels of depression and traumatic stress after the detection of fetal anomalies leading to termination of pregnancy, according to a study published online June 20 in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.

Mona Bekkhus, Ph.D., from the University of Oslo in Norway, and colleagues conducted a prospective observational study to examine acute and long-term stress in men and women after detection of fetal anomalies leading to pregnancy termination. A total of 87 of 180 pregnant women with a fetal anomaly detected by ultrasound examination terminated their pregnancy; 72 partners were included in the sample. A comparison group of 93 women and their 81 partners who did not terminate the pregnancy following a diagnosis were also included. Participants completed the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and the Impact of Events Scale (IES).

The researchers found that higher symptom levels of depression, but not traumatic stress, were reported prior to the termination by women who underwent pregnancy termination compared with women who chose not to terminate their pregnancy. Among men, depression and all subscales of traumatic stress differed (e.g., IES intrusion; mean difference, 5.31). Over time, women experienced significantly more depressive symptoms than men (β = 4.33) and had higher symptom levels of all subscales of traumatic stress (e.g., IES intrusion; β = 5.27).

"Understanding the shared and unique experiences of women and men during this period can guide practitioners in providing clear communication, nonjudgmental support, and timely access to counselling services," the authors write.

Abstract/Full Text

#Psychiatry #OBGYN & Women's Health #Depression, unspecified (F32.A) #Postpartum depression (F53.0) #Other mental disorders complicating pregnancy, third trimester (O99.343) #Other mental disorders complicating pregnancy, unspecified trimester (O99.340) #Post-traumatic stress disorder, unspecified (F43.10) #Reaction to severe stress, unspecified (F43.9) #Labor and delivery complicated by fetal stress, unspecified (O77.9) #Other reactions to severe stress (F43.89) #State of emotional shock and stress, unspecified (R45.7) #Encounter for other suspected maternal and fetal conditions ruled out (Z03.79) #Maternal care for other (suspected) fetal abnormality and damage, fetal gastrointestinal anomalies, not applicable or unspecified (O35.DXX0) #Encounter for suspected fetal anomaly ruled out (Z03.73) #Maternal care for (suspected) fetal abnormality and damage, unspecified, not applicable or unspecified (O35.9XX0) #Maternal care for other (suspected) fetal abnormality and damage, fetal genitourinary anomalies, not applicable or unspecified (O35.EXX0) #Complete or unspecified spontaneous abortion without complication (O03.9) #Encounter for elective termination of pregnancy (Z33.2) #Stress, not elsewhere classified (Z73.3) #Acute stress reaction (F43.0) #Labor and delivery complicated by other evidence of fetal stress (O77.8) #Less than 8 weeks gestation of pregnancy (Z3A.01) #Weeks of gestation of pregnancy not specified (Z3A.00) #Major depressive disorder, single episode, unspecified (F32.9) #Post-traumatic stress disorder, chronic (F43.12) #Depressive episode (F32) #Other general symptoms and signs (R68.89)
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