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Updated: Sep 20, 2025
06:39
Using a Murine Model of Psychosocial Stress in Pregnancy as a Translationally Relevant Paradigm for Psychiatric Disorders in Mothers and Infants
Published on: June 13, 2021
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Postnatal Depression and Post-Traumatic Stress Risk Following Miscarriage
Milda Kukulskienė1, Nida Žemaitienė1
1Department of Health Psychology, Faculty of Public Health, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, 44307 Kaunas, Lithuania.
Summary
Miscarriage significantly impacts women
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Health
- Psychology
- Public Health
Background:
- Miscarriage affects 10-25% of pregnancies, with significant physical and psychological consequences.
- Psychological sequelae of miscarriage, including depression and PTSD, are under-researched.
- Women often experience isolation and pressure to grieve in silence after miscarriage.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the risk of postnatal depression and post-traumatic stress following miscarriage.
- To identify vulnerability and resilience factors associated with psychological morbidity after miscarriage.
Main Methods:
- Online questionnaire administered to 839 Lithuanian women with one or more miscarriages.
- Utilized the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and the Impact of Events Scale-Revised (IES-R).
Main Results:
- 59.1% of women were at increased risk of postnatal depression, with 48.9% at high risk.
- 44.7% of women were at increased risk of post-traumatic stress.
- Impaired body image and childlessness were the strongest predictors of psychological morbidity.
Conclusions:
- Miscarriage poses a substantial risk for developing postnatal depression and post-traumatic stress.
- Specific factors like body image and childlessness significantly predict psychological distress.
- Further research and support are needed for women experiencing miscarriage.
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