Psychiatric morbidity in the infertile population: a reconceptualization.
The understanding of psychiatric morbidity in the infertile population relies to a great extent upon the instruments used to measure psychopathology. The present study investigated the distinction between psychiatric morbidity and infertility strain reactions in a sample of 104 infertile couples using the SCL-90-R. Some symptoms ordinarily indicative of psychopathology can represent normal side effects or reactions to infertility treatment, thus causing spurious estimates of pathology. Alternately, item analyses revealed a profile of infertility strain reflecting tension, depressive symptoms, worry, and interpersonal alienation frequently occurring among both male and female infertility patients. The concept of infertility strain is suggested as a vehicle for understanding the functioning of infertile patients and to circumvent the stigmatizing effects of psychiatric labels while providing appropriate intervention.
Berg
B J
BJ
Department of Behavioral Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington.
Wilson
J F
JF
D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety; D003376:Counseling; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007246:Infertility / Q000523:psychology*; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000523:psychology; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D011581:Psychological Tests; D012944:Social Support; D013315:Stress, Psychological