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Geburtshilfe Frauenheilkd 2012; 72(1): 56-63
DOI: 10.1055/s-0031-1280408
Original Article
GebFra Science
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Post Partum

The Impact of Birth on the Prevalence of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in Multiparous WomenPosttraumatic Stress Disorder post partumÜber den Einfluss der Geburt auf die Prävalenz einer posttraumatischen Belastungsstörung (PTSD) bei Mehrgebärenden
W. Schwab
Universitätsklinik für Frauenheilkunde Innsbruck (University Clinic of Gynaecology Innsbruck), Innsbruck
,
C. Marth
Universitätsklinik für Frauenheilkunde Innsbruck (University Clinic of Gynaecology Innsbruck), Innsbruck
,
A. M. Bergant
Universitätsklinik für Frauenheilkunde Innsbruck (University Clinic of Gynaecology Innsbruck), Innsbruck
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

received 13 April 2011
revised 28 July 2011
and 15 September 2011

accepted 09 November 2011

Publication Date:
07 February 2012 (online)

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Abstract

Traumatic birth experiences may lead to serious psychological impairment. Recent studies show that a considerable number of women can develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), in some cases in a subsyndromal form. Until now, the possibility that postpartum psychological symptoms might be a continuum of a pre-existing disorder in pregnancy has rarely been considered. This study therefore aimed to evaluate the proportion of women who develop post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of childbirth. Materials and Methods: 56 multiparous women were recruited for the study. The diagnosis of PTSD was made according to the criteria for psychological disorders in the DSM-IV (Diagnostics and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders). The data were collected in structured interviews in the 30th to 38th week of gestation and in the 6th week post partum. Results: Of the 56 women participating, 52 (93 %) completed the survey. Uncontrolled results showed that 21.15 % of the multiparous women met the full diagnostic PTSD criteria in the 6th week post partum. After the exclusion of all cases already characterised by all criteria or a subsyndromal form of PTSD caused by previous traumatisation, the PTSD rate was below 8 % at 6 weeks postpartum (= incidence rate of PTSD post partum). Conclusions: The present study is the first prospective longitudinal study to demonstrate the occurrence of full criteria PTSD in multiparous women as a result of childbirth after having excluded pre-existing PTSD. The results of our study show a high prevalence rate of PTSD during pregnancy. A number of women report all aspects of post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of childbirth.

Zusammenfassung

Traumatisch erlebte Entbindungen können zu erheblichen psychischen Beeinträchtigungen führen. Neuere Forschungsergebnisse legen nahe, dass eine nicht unbeträchtliche Anzahl von Frauen nach der Geburt eine Posttraumatische Belastungsstörung (PTSD) entwickelt, bei vielen kann eine subsyndromale Form diagnostiziert werden. Bislang wurde der Möglichkeit, dass postpartale psychische Symptome ein Kontinuum einer bereits in der Schwangerschaft bestehenden Störung darstellen können, zu wenig Rechnung getragen. Ein Ziel der Studie war es deshalb, zu evaluieren, wie viele Frauen eine Posttraumatische Belastungsstörung als Folge der Geburt/Entbindung entwickeln. Material und Methoden: 56 Mehrgebärende wurden für die Studie rekrutiert. Die Diagnostik einer PTSD wurde nach den Forschungskriterien des DSM-IV (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) durchgeführt. Daten wurden in der 30.–38. Schwangerschaftswoche und 6 Wochen post partum unter Verwendung strukturierter Interviews erhoben. Ergebnisse: Von den ursprünglich 56 Teilnehmerinnen beendeten 52 (93 %) die Studie. Unkontrollierte Resultate zeigten eine Prävalenz von 21,15 % der Mehrgebärenden, die 6 Wochen post partum alle diagnostischen Kriterien einer PTSD erfüllten. Nach Ausschluss aller Fälle, die bereits präpartal das Vollbild oder eine subsyndromale Form einer PTSD als Folge früherer Traumatisierungen zeigten, lag die PTSD-Rate 6 Wochen nach der Entbindung unter 8 % (= Inzidenzrate einer postpartalen PTSD). Schlussfolgerungen: Die vorliegende Studie war die erste prospektive Longitudinalstudie, die das Vorhandensein des Vollbilds einer Posttraumatischen Belastungsstörung als Folge der Geburt bei Mehrgebärenden untersuchte, nachdem Fälle präexistenter PTSD ausgeschlossen wurden. Die Resultate unserer Untersuchung zeigen eine hohe präpartale PTSD-Prävalenzrate. Ein Teil der Frauen weist alle Aspekte einer postpartalen Posttraumatischen Belastungsstörung auf.

Key words

childbirth - post-traumatic stress disorder - multiparous women - incidence - pre-existing PTSD

Schlüsselwörter

Geburt - Posttraumatische Belastungsstörung - Mehrgebärende - Inzidenz - präexistente PTSD

Supporting Information

 

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