Screening for neural-tube defects and maternal anxiety

Anxiety levels were studied in 176 women with raised serum alpha-fetoprotein levels at 16-18 weeks gestation, at the time they attended a central assessment clinic, and again 2-3 weeks later in those not found to have a fetus with a neural-tube defect. Methods of imparting information about the serum screening tests and the manner in which a normal amniotic fluid result was conveyed to the patient were also studied. Overall, women attending the clinic for further assessment were extremely anxious, irrespective of the source of their information. Anxiety scores 2-3 weeks after testing were greatly influenced by whether the patient had been given a definite normal result or whether she was told to assume that the result was normal if she did not hear from the clinic. Patients who, after reassessment, did not require amniocentesis had some residual anxiety in spite of verbal reassurance.