Comparison of perinatal grief after dilation and evacuation or labor induction in second trimester terminations for fetal anomalies.
OBJECTIVE
This study was undertaken to compare grief resolution after dilation and evacuation (D&E) or induction of labor (IOL) for second-trimester pregnancy termination.


METHODS
A prospective cohort of 49 women choosing second-trimester abortion caused by fetal anomalies by either medical IOL or D&E. Depression was evaluated by using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and bereavement was assessed by using the Perinatal Grief Scale with follow-up to 12 months after pregnancy termination. Data were analyzed with chi 2 tests, Mann-Whitney U tests, and independent and paired sample t tests.


RESULTS
There was no significant difference in depression incidence on enrollment (61.9% D&E, 53.8% IOL, P = .579), at 4 months (23.5% D&E, 14.3% IOL, P = .252) or 12 months (27.3% D&E, 20.0% IOL, P = .696) or on the PGS at 4 months (74.1 vs 90.2, P = .351) or 12 months (73.3 vs 86.4, P = .658).


CONCLUSIONS
There is no significant difference in grief resolution among women who terminate a desired pregnancy by either medical or surgical abortion.
Burgoine
Gary A
GA
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, USA. gburgoine@whallc.com
Van Kirk
Samuel D
SD
Romm
Jillian
J
Edelman
Alison B
AB
Jacobson
Sig-Linda
SL
Jensen
Jeffrey T
JT
D000015:Abnormalities, Multiple / Q000523:psychology*; D000020:Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000025:Abortion, Eugenic / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology*; D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004107:Dilatation and Curettage / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006117:Grief; D006801:Humans; D007751:Labor, Induced / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
D000020:Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal