Analise O'Donovan1, Kristie L Alcorn2, Jeff C Patrick3, Debra K Creedy4, Sharon Dawe5, Grant J Devilly6. 1. School of Applied Psychology and Griffith Health Institute, Griffith University, Mt Gravatt, Queensland 4122, Australia. Electronic address: a.odonovan@griffith.edu.au. 2. School of Applied Psychology, Griffith University, Australia. 3. Australian Institute of Health Service Management, University of Tasmania, Australia. 4. Queensland Centre for Mothers & Babies, University of Queensland, Australia. 5. School of Applied Psychology and Griffith Health Institute, Griffith University, Mt Gravatt, Queensland 4122, Australia. 6. School of Applied Psychology and Griffith Health Institute, Griffith University, Mt Gravatt, Queensland 4122, Australia. Electronic address: grant@devilly.org.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: around 50% of women report symptoms that indicate some aspect of their childbirth experience was 'traumatic', and at least 3.1% meet diagnosis for PTSD six months post partum. Here we aimed to conduct a prospective longitudinal study and examine predictors of birth-related trauma - predictors that included a range of pre-event factors - as a first step in the creation of a screening questionnaire. METHOD: of the 933 women who completed an assessment in their third trimester, 866 were followed-up at four to six week post partum. Two canonical discriminant function analyses were conducted to ascertain factors associated with experiencing birth as traumatic and, of the women who found the birth traumatic, which factors were associated with those who developed PTSD. FINDINGS: a mix of 16 pre-birth predictor variables and event-specific predictor variables distinguished women who reported symptoms consistent with trauma from those who did not. Fourteen predictor variables distinguished women who went on to develop PTSD from those who did not. CONCLUSIONS: anxiety sensitivity to possible birthing problems, breached birthing expectations, and severity of any actual birth problem, predicted those who found the birth traumatic. Prior trauma was the single most important predictive factor of PTSD. Evaluating the utility of brief, cost-effective, and accurate screening for women at risk of developing birth-related PTSD is suggested.
OBJECTIVE: around 50% of women report symptoms that indicate some aspect of their childbirth experience was 'traumatic', and at least 3.1% meet diagnosis for PTSD six months post partum. Here we aimed to conduct a prospective longitudinal study and examine predictors of birth-related trauma - predictors that included a range of pre-event factors - as a first step in the creation of a screening questionnaire. METHOD: of the 933 women who completed an assessment in their third trimester, 866 were followed-up at four to six week post partum. Two canonical discriminant function analyses were conducted to ascertain factors associated with experiencing birth as traumatic and, of the women who found the birth traumatic, which factors were associated with those who developed PTSD. FINDINGS: a mix of 16 pre-birth predictor variables and event-specific predictor variables distinguished women who reported symptoms consistent with trauma from those who did not. Fourteen predictor variables distinguished women who went on to develop PTSD from those who did not. CONCLUSIONS:anxiety sensitivity to possible birthing problems, breached birthing expectations, and severity of any actual birth problem, predicted those who found the birth traumatic. Prior trauma was the single most important predictive factor of PTSD. Evaluating the utility of brief, cost-effective, and accurate screening for women at risk of developing birth-related PTSD is suggested.
Authors: M H Hollander; E van Hastenberg; J van Dillen; M G van Pampus; E de Miranda; C A I Stramrood Journal: Arch Womens Ment Health Date: 2017-05-29 Impact factor: 3.633
Authors: Mark A van Heumen; Martine H Hollander; Maria G van Pampus; Jeroen van Dillen; Claire A I Stramrood Journal: Front Psychiatry Date: 2018-07-31 Impact factor: 4.157