Psychological consequences of termination of pregnancy for fetal anomaly: similarities and differences between partners.
OBJECTIVE
We examined the psychological responses to termination of pregnancy (TOP) for fetal anomaly from both men and women. The aim was to find risk factors for poor psychological outcome both for the individuals and for the couple.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study was performed in 151 couples 2-7 years after TOP. We used standardized and validated questionnaires to investigate grief, symptoms of posttraumatic stress, somatic complaints, anxiety, and depression.


RESULTS
Most couples adapted well to their loss, although several patients had pathological scores on posttraumatic stress symptoms and depression. Differences between men and women were slight. Higher education, good partner support, earlier gestational age, and life-incompatibility of the disorder positively influenced the outcomes, more for women than for men. Men and women with pathological scores rarely had such scores simultaneously.


CONCLUSIONS
We emphasize the importance of equally involving both parents in the counselling because the outcomes of grief and posttraumatic stress symptoms between men and women only moderately differ and post-TOP psychopathology occurs in men as well. Good adjustment to TOP in women seems dependent on the level of support that they perceive from their partners. The intracouple results of the study suggest a mutual influence in the process of grieving between the partners.
Korenromp
Marijke J
MJ
Department of Perinatology and Gynaecology, University Medical Center Utrecht, The Netherlands. M.Korenromp@azu.nl
Page-Christiaens
Godelieve C M L
GC
van den Bout
Jan
J
Mulder
Eduard J H
EJ
Hunfeld
Joke A M
JA
Bilardo
Catia M
CM
Offermans
Jos P M
JP
Visser
Gerard H A
GH
D000028:Abortion, Induced / Q000523:psychology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000002:abnormalities*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires