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Risk factors for developing posttraumatic stress disorder following childbirth
Sabrina J Chan1, Tsachi Ein-Dor2, Philip A Mayopoulos1
1Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA.
Psychiatry Research
|June 2, 2020
Summary
Childbirth-related posttraumatic stress disorder (CB-PTSD) can occur even with healthy outcomes. Antepartum and birth factors, not just infant complications, are key predictors of CB-PTSD.
Area of Science:
- Perinatal mental health
- Trauma and stress-related disorders
Background:
- Childbirth-related posttraumatic stress disorder (CB-PTSD) affects women after delivery.
- Neonatal complications may increase CB-PTSD risk, but risk factors across different infant outcomes are not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate and compare risk factors for CB-PTSD in women with and without neonatal complications.
- To determine if childbirth itself is an independent stressor for CB-PTSD.
Main Methods:
- Comparative analysis of CB-PTSD risk factors.
- Focus on antepartum, birth-related, and infant outcome variables.
Main Results:
- Antepartum and birth-related factors significantly predict CB-PTSD, irrespective of infant outcomes.
- Childbirth complications are not the sole determinants of CB-PTSD.
Conclusions:
- Childbirth is an independent stressor capable of triggering CB-PTSD.
- Antepartum and birth experiences are crucial in understanding CB-PTSD development, even with healthy babies.
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