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Published in: BMC Psychiatry 1/2021

Open Access 01-12-2021 | Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder | Research article

Post-traumatic stress disorder following childbirth

Authors: Deniz Ertan, Coraline Hingray, Elena Burlacu, Aude Sterlé, Wissam El-Hage

Published in: BMC Psychiatry | Issue 1/2021

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Abstract

Background

Childbirth experience could be complicated and even traumatic. This study explored the possible risk factors for post-traumatic stress disorder following childbirth (PTSD-FC) in mothers and partners.

Methods

Through a cross-sectional online survey biographical, medical, psychological, obstetrical and trauma history data were collected. The PTSD-FC, postnatal depression, social support, and perceived mother-infant bond in 916 mothers and 64 partners were measured through self-reported psychometric assessments.

Results

Our findings highlight the possible impact of several risk factors such as emergency childbirth, past traumatic experiences and distressing events during childbirth on PTSD-FC. The difficulties in mother-infant bond and the postpartum depression were highly associated with the total score of PTSD-FC symptoms for mothers. While for partners, post-partum depression was highly associated with the total score of PTSD-FC.

Conclusions

Our study demonstrated significant links between psychological, traumatic and birth-related risk factors as well as the perceived social support and the possible PTSD following childbirth in mothers and partners. Given that, a specific attention to PTSD-FC and psychological distress following childbirth should be given to mothers and their partners following childbirth.
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Metadata
Title
Post-traumatic stress disorder following childbirth
Authors
Deniz Ertan
Coraline Hingray
Elena Burlacu
Aude Sterlé
Wissam El-Hage
Publication date
01-12-2021
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Psychiatry / Issue 1/2021
Electronic ISSN: 1471-244X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-021-03158-6

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