The psychological impact of prenatal diagnosis of fetal abnormality: strategies for investigation and intervention.

Though there are distinct technical advantages to medical advances allowing prenatal diagnosis of fetal abnormalities, the psychological impact of the use of these procedures has been given little consideration. While early detection of impairment may provide parents with an opportunity for emotional preparation, it also may precipitate a long period of distress. Toward the end of clarifying this indeterminate impact of prenatal diagnosis of fetal abnormality, the literature addressing the emotional consequences of giving birth to an impaired infant is examined for its relevance to the prenatal diagnostic situation. The clinical and research implications of this extrapolation of an existing literature to an important new question are considered. It is concluded that health care professionals must begin to explore systematically the psychological impact of the use of this technology, and must use their increased understanding clinically to promote not only the physical health of the neonate, but also its emotional well-being and that of its parents.