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Acute and post-traumatic stress disorder after spontaneous abortion
S V Bowles1, L C James, D S Solursh
1United States Army Soldier Support Institute, Fort Jackson, South Carolina 29205, USA. Bowless@Jackson.ARMY.MIL
American Family Physician
|April 6, 2000
Summary
Following spontaneous abortion, primary care physicians may overlook acute stress disorder (ASD) or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Early intervention like critical incident stress debriefing can aid recovery from trauma-related symptoms.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Obstetrics & Gynecology
- Mental Health
Background:
- Spontaneous abortion can lead to complicated bereavement, potentially masking stress-related disorders.
- Primary care physicians may not readily diagnose acute stress disorder (ASD) or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in these cases.
Observation:
- ASD symptoms (dissociation, reliving trauma, avoidance, arousal) last 2 days to 4 weeks.
- PTSD is diagnosed if symptoms persist beyond 4 weeks.
- Distress responses after spontaneous abortion encompass psychological, physical, cognitive, and behavioral effects, but may not meet full ASD or PTSD criteria.
Findings:
- Up to 10% of women may experience ASD after spontaneous abortion.
- Approximately 1% of women may develop PTSD following spontaneous abortion.
- Critical incident stress debriefing shows potential benefit for managing stress disorders post-spontaneous abortion.
Implications:
- Highlights the need for increased physician awareness of ASD and PTSD after spontaneous abortion.
- Suggests critical incident stress debriefing as a valuable, accessible intervention for primary care.
- Emphasizes the importance of timely mental health support for women experiencing spontaneous abortion and subsequent distress.
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