Identifying expectant parents at risk for psychological distress in response to a confirmed fetal abnormality.
Publication/Presentation Date
6-1-2016
Abstract
The aim of the study was to determine the incidence of psychological distress among expectant women carrying fetuses with prenatal diagnosed abnormalities and their partners. A 2-year retrospective medical chart review was completed of 1032 expectant mothers carrying fetuses with a confirmed anomaly, and 788 expectant fathers, who completed the CFDT Mental Health Screening Tool. Furthermore, 19.3 % of women and 13.1 % of men reported significant post-traumatic stress symptoms, and 14 % of men and 23 % of women scored positive for a major depressive disorder. Higher risk was noted among expectant parents of younger age and minority racial/ethnic status, and women with post-college level education and current or prior use of antidepressant medications. Heightened distress was noted within fetal diagnostic subgroups including neck masses, sacrococcygeal teratomas, neurological defects, and miscellaneous diagnoses. Incorporating screening tools into prenatal practice can help clinicians better identify the potential risk for psychological distress among expectant parents within high-risk fetal settings.
Volume
19
Issue
3
First Page
443
Last Page
453
ISSN
1435-1102
Published In/Presented At
Cole, J. C., Moldenhauer, J. S., Berger, K., Cary, M. S., Smith, H., Martino, V., Rendon, N., & Howell, L. J. (2016). Identifying expectant parents at risk for psychological distress in response to a confirmed fetal abnormality. Archives of women's mental health, 19(3), 443–453. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00737-015-0580-6
Disciplines
Medicine and Health Sciences
PubMedID
26392365
Department(s)
Fellows and Residents
Document Type
Article