Predicting posttraumatic stress disorder after childbirth

O’Donovan, Analise; Alcorn, Kristie Lee; Patrick, Jeff; Creedy, Debra; Dawe, Sharon; Devilly, Grant J.

doi:10.1016/j.midw.2014.03.011

Cited by 82 publications

(96 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…Research on PTSD following childbirth has been criticized for being atheoretical in nature (McKenzie‐Harg et al., ) instead focusing on identifying predictive factors of PTSD following childbirth, such as lack of control during childbirth (Ford & Ayers, ), prior maternal psychological symptoms (Grekin & O'Hara, ), previous trauma (O'Donovan et al., ), emergency cesarean section, feelings of powerlessness, birth through dissociation, and inadequate support (Ford, Ayers, & Bradley, ). However, Slade () proposed a conceptual framework outlining specific predisposing, precipitating, and maintaining factors of childbirth, which can be internal, external, or an interaction of the two, relating to later PTS symptoms.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“Weathering the storm:” Mothers’ and fathers’ experiences of parenting a preterm infant

O'Donovan

Nixon

2019

Infant Mental Health Journal

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Parenting preterm infants is a unique experience distinct from parenting full‐term infants, characterized by a delayed transition to parenthood and limited caregiving opportunities. This study explored mothers’ and fathers’ lived experiences of parenting during infancy in the context of preterm birth. Semistructured qualitative interviews were conducted with 13 parents (6 fathers, 7 mothers) of preterm infants. Data were analyzed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Four superordinate themes emerged: (a) An unnatural disaster: The traumatic nature of preterm birth, (b) The immediate aftermath: Disconnected and displaced, (c) Breaking the ice: Moving from frozen to melted, and (d) Aftershocks: Transitioning home. Both parents experienced preterm birth as traumatic. Similarities and differences in mothers’ and fathers’ experiences were identified. Preterm birth posed challenges for nurturant and social caregiving and resulted in anxiety, hypervigilance, and overprotective parenting behavior. The results highlight the need for trauma‐informed care and further research developing and testing empirically based interventions.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“Weathering the storm:” Mothers’ and fathers’ experiences of parenting a preterm infant

O'Donovan

Nixon

2019

Infant Mental Health Journal

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“…In contrast, however, both old and new surveys show a great correlation between EMCS and PTSD compared to other types of birth [6,12,20], while only two investigate the correlation of EMCS with PTSD [21,22]. Some researchers also consider that the psychosocial characteristics of women, previous traumas, and history of mental disorders are stronger risk factors than EMCS in the development of PTSD [8,23,24].…”

Section: Ptsd After Cesarean(ac)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Correlation between Kind of Cesarean Section and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Greek Women

Orovou

Δάγλα

Iatrakis

et al. 2020

IJERPH

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A birth experience with cesarean section (CS) can be a cause of the development of post-traumatic stress disorder after a cesarean (PTSD-AC) or profile PTSD, for a percentage of women. So far, there is no data on the frequency of PTSD-AC in Greece and this syndrome is often associated with other mental disorders of the postpartum period. The purpose of this research is to associate the kind of CS with PTSD-AC for Greek mothers and the combination of factors that make them less resistant to trauma. A sample of ahundred and sixty-six mothers who gave birth with emergency cesarean section (EMCS) and elective cesarean section (ELCS) at a Greek University hospital have consented to participate in the two phases of the survey, in the 2nd day postpartum and a follow-up in the 6th week postpartum. Medical/demographic data and a life events checklist (LEC-5) with Criterion A and post-traumatic stress checklist (PCL-5) were used to diagnose PTSD and PTSD Profile. Out of166 mothers enrolled, 160 replied to the follow-up (96.4%), ELCS 97 (97%) and EMCS 63 (95%). Twenty (31.7%) EMCS had PTSD and nine (14.3%) had Profile. One (1%) ELCS had PTSD and 4 (4.1%) had Profile. This survey shows a high prevalence rate of PTSD after EMCS with additional risk factors of preterm labor, inclusion in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), a lack of breastfeeding, and a lack of support from the partner.

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“…Women can perceive the birth of their baby as a positive outcome even if the birth is appraised as traumatic [24]. Women may have hopes and expectations for the process of childbirth that contrast with their actual experience [25]. There are at least two individuals involved in any childbirth experience (mother and child) and the woman might fear for her own life and/or that of her (unborn) baby [26].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Testing a cognitive model to predict posttraumatic stress disorder following childbirth

King

McKenzie‐McHarg

Horsch³

2017

BMC Pregnancy Childbirth

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BackgroundOne third of women describes their childbirth as traumatic and between 0.8 and 6.9% goes on to develop posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The cognitive model of PTSD has been shown to be applicable to a range of trauma samples. However, childbirth is qualitatively different to other trauma types and special consideration needs to be taken when applying it to this population. Previous studies have investigated some cognitive variables in isolation but no study has so far looked at all the key processes described in the cognitive model. This study therefore aimed to investigate whether theoretically-derived variables of the cognitive model explain unique variance in postnatal PTSD symptoms when key demographic, obstetric and clinical risk factors are controlled for.MethodOne-hundred and fifty-seven women who were between 1 and 12 months post-partum (M = 6.5 months) completed validated questionnaires assessing PTSD and depressive symptoms, childbirth experience, postnatal social support, trauma memory, peritraumatic processing, negative appraisals, dysfunctional cognitive and behavioural strategies and obstetric as well as demographic risk factors in an online survey.ResultsA PTSD screening questionnaire suggested that 5.7% of the sample might fulfil diagnostic criteria for PTSD. Overall, risk factors alone predicted 43% of variance in PTSD symptoms and cognitive behavioural factors alone predicted 72.7%. A final model including both risk factors and cognitive behavioural factors explained 73.7% of the variance in PTSD symptoms, 37.1% of which was unique variance predicted by cognitive factors.ConclusionsAll variables derived from Ehlers and Clark’s cognitive model significantly explained variance in PTSD symptoms following childbirth, even when clinical, demographic and obstetric were controlled for. Our findings suggest that the CBT model is applicable and useful as a way of understanding and informing the treatment of PTSD following childbirth.

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Predicting posttraumatic stress disorder after childbirth

Cited by 82 publications

References 34 publications

“Weathering the storm:” Mothers’ and fathers’ experiences of parenting a preterm infant

“Weathering the storm:” Mothers’ and fathers’ experiences of parenting a preterm infant

Correlation between Kind of Cesarean Section and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Greek Women

Testing a cognitive model to predict posttraumatic stress disorder following childbirth

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