The birth trauma psychological therapy service: An audit of outcomes

To evaluate routinely collected service data from a 'Birth Trauma' psychology clinic integrated into maternity services, in order to review effectiveness for women with symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) following childbirth.

Prevalence of PTSD after child-birth has been estimated to be around 3% for women meeting full diagnostic criteria and up to 9% for sub-threshold symptoms. This can occur even in response to deliveries considered to be medically straightforward. NICE guidelines (2018) recommend psychological therapy as a first line treatment for symptoms of PTSD.

The sample included 114 women referred post-natally for psychological assessment and intervention following a traumatic birth experience. Measures were routinely administered as part of initial assessment (T1) and at completion of intervention (T2). Data from these measures were collated and analyzed using a series of paired sample t tests. Following assessment 101 women were taken on for psychological intervention and of these, 74 completed both T1 and T2 measures.

There were highly significant reductions across all measures of PTSD, anxiety and negative mood symptoms. The treatment effect sizes were very large. Mean total score on a measure of PTSD symptomatology was no longer clinically significant following interventions.

This evaluation suggests an integrated Birth Trauma psychology clinic using a small number of contact sessions is a highly efficient and effective model of care for women experiencing symptoms of PTSD following childbirth.