Grief after termination of pregnancy due to fetal malformation.
Termination of pregnancy for fetal malformation is a traumatic event which any woman finds hard to withstand and which entails the risk of severe and complicated grieving. This paper presents three cases illustrating the trauma and coping mechanisms. Grieving continued for over 6 months in all cases and included pathological anxiety and depression. We offer advice and counselling to such women.
Kersting
A
A
Department of Psychiatry, University of Muenster, Germany. a.kersting@uni-muenster.de
Reutemann
M
M
Ohrmann
P
P
Baez
E
E
Klockenbusch
W
W
Lanczik
M
M
Arolt
V
V
D000028:Abortion, Induced / Q000523:psychology*; D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D003376:Counseling; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases; D006117:Grief; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*