Predisposition to psychological complications after stillbirth: a case report.
As many as one-third of women bereaved by stillbirth suffer psychological decompensation, and a similar proportion see the obstetric team as unsupportive. A case history is presented of a woman who suffered severe psychiatric illness after delivering a stillborn anencephalic infant. This paper discusses the powerful influence that the behavior of the obstetric team in the delivery room can exert on the long-term outcome of the crisis. This case highlights a number of practical aspects of the psychological management of bereavement by stillbirth.
D000328:Adult; D000757:Anencephaly; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric; D005260:Female; D005313:Fetal Death; D006117:Grief; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D011644:Puerperal Disorders / Q000523:psychology*