OBJECTIVES: (1) To examine the change in anxiety before and after prenatal diagnostic procedures in women undergoing invasive (amniocentesis) and noninvasive (ultrasound) procedures; and (2) to examine predictors of anxiety before the diagnostic procedure. METHODS: A short-term follow-up study was conducted on a sample of pregnant women in the second trimester. Questionnaires were administered to women scheduled for amniocentesis (n = 37) and ultrasonography (n = 37) before and immediately after the procedure. The following questionnaires were administered: the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, the Affect Intensity Measure, the COPE inventory, and the Optimism-Pessimism Scale. RESULTS: Prior to the administration of the prenatal diagnostic procedure, measured anxiety levels were the same in both groups of women (p > 0.05). An interaction effect of a two-way ANOVA revealed that anxiety decreased after the procedure in the ultrasound but not the amniocentesis group (F(1, 72) = 5.01, p = 0.028). Although coping styles and affect intensity were found to be related to anxiety (p < 0.05), they were not significant predictors of anxiety before the diagnostic procedure when controlling for trait anxiety and procedure type. CONCLUSION: Anxiety levels associated with noninvasive but not after invasive, prenatal diagnostics tests decrease immediately following the procedure.
OBJECTIVES: (1) To examine the change in anxiety before and after prenatal diagnostic procedures in women undergoing invasive (amniocentesis) and noninvasive (ultrasound) procedures; and (2) to examine predictors of anxiety before the diagnostic procedure. METHODS: A short-term follow-up study was conducted on a sample of pregnant women in the second trimester. Questionnaires were administered to women scheduled for amniocentesis (n = 37) and ultrasonography (n = 37) before and immediately after the procedure. The following questionnaires were administered: the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, the Affect Intensity Measure, the COPE inventory, and the Optimism-Pessimism Scale. RESULTS: Prior to the administration of the prenatal diagnostic procedure, measured anxiety levels were the same in both groups of women (p > 0.05). An interaction effect of a two-way ANOVA revealed that anxiety decreased after the procedure in the ultrasound but not the amniocentesis group (F(1, 72) = 5.01, p = 0.028). Although coping styles and affect intensity were found to be related to anxiety (p < 0.05), they were not significant predictors of anxiety before the diagnostic procedure when controlling for trait anxiety and procedure type. CONCLUSION:Anxiety levels associated with noninvasive but not after invasive, prenatal diagnostics tests decrease immediately following the procedure.
Authors: Rachèl V van Schendel; G C M Lieve Page-Christiaens; Lean Beulen; Caterina M Bilardo; Marjon A de Boer; Audrey B C Coumans; Brigitte H W Faas; Irene M van Langen; Klaske D Lichtenbelt; Merel C van Maarle; Merryn V E Macville; Dick Oepkes; Eva Pajkrt; Lidewij Henneman Journal: J Genet Couns Date: 2017-06-30 Impact factor: 2.537