[Amniocentesis: psychological stress and coping by the pregnant female]

Anxiety as induced by aminocentesis and consequential strategies for coping there with, are the focus of this study. A group of 32 women were selected for AC due to age, and a second group of 30 women as a result of risk factors in the case history. Anxiety related to AC was self-assessed by the patients and coping strategies were rated according to the "Bernese Coping Modes" prospectively and retrospectively. Results indicate, that AC is anxiety-inducing, but does not vary with parity, indication or the degree of information, but solely with the fact of preexisting experience or absence of such with AC. 50% of the patients would have been willing to interrupt the pregnancy, had the result indicated a high risk of malformation. The coping with the waiting time until the result of AC was known was such, that the "age" group showed a great deal of optimism, whereas the risk group used several coping modes, which are more complex and also potentially problematic. This does not make the somatic risk group a psychological hazard group, but nevertheless suggests, that professionals should stand by to intervene on a psychological plane.