The Validation of the Perinatal Post-Traumatic Questionnaire in the Italian Population: Risk and Protective Factors

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Clinical Psychology

Background:

• Postpartum Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (P-PTSD) symptoms arise after traumatic childbirth experiences.
• Individual and environmental factors impact childbirth experiences, but P-PTSD remains understudied in Italy due to a lack of screening tools.
• This study addresses the need for validated screening instruments and the identification of associated risk factors in the Italian population.

Purpose of the Study:

• To validate the Italian version of the Perinatal PTSD Questionnaire (PPQ-II).
• To identify maternal, pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum risk and protective factors linked to P-PTSD in Italy.
• To establish a reliable screening tool for early P-PTSD detection within Italian maternity care.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional online study involving 702 women 6-24 months postpartum.
• Participants completed the validated Italian PPQ-II, DASS-21, BFI-10, and a sociodemographic/perinatal factors questionnaire.
• Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses (EFA/CFA) assessed the PPQ-II's structure and validity, alongside internal consistency and convergent/divergent analyses.

Main Results:

• EFA identified a two-factor structure for the PPQ-II: 'Arousal and Mood alteration' and 'Avoidance and Intrusion'.
• CFA confirmed this structure with a good data fit. Validity was supported by significant associations with the DASS-21 and lower correlation with the BFI-10.
• Significant associations were found between P-PTSD symptoms and various maternal, pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum factors.

Conclusions:

• The Italian PPQ-II is a validated and reliable screening tool for early P-PTSD identification in maternity care.
• The study identified key perinatal factors associated with P-PTSD, aiding in symptom detection.
• Implementing the PPQ-II can contribute to improved maternal well-being and targeted interventions in postpartum care.