Psychosocial impact of early-onset hypertensive disorders and related complications in pregnancy.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of the study was to examine the psychosocial impact of severe hypertensive disorders during pregnancy.


METHODS
All women (n = 216) in a prospective study cohort with severe hypertensive disorders of pregnancy were invited at term age, 3 months, and 1 year postterm to complete the 90-item Symptom Check List (SCL-90) questionnaire for assessment of their psychosocial condition. The association of hypothesized determinants was tested by binary logistic analysis.


RESULTS
Psychosocial impact decreased over time in all women (P < .01). Women with an adverse infant outcome had a worse score at term age (P = .04). The only parameter relating significantly to SCL-90 score in multivariate analysis was gestational age at inclusion. One year postterm, 72% resumed work and 9% were still on sick leave.


CONCLUSIONS
Severe hypertensive disorders of pregnancy have a high psychological impact, especially when gestational age at onset of disease is below 30 weeks or if adverse infant outcome occurs.
Rep
Annelies
A
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, VU University Medical Center, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. a.rep@vumc.nl
Ganzevoort
Wessel
W
Bonsel
Gouke J
GJ
Wolf
Hans
H
de Vries
Johanna I P
JI
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D046110:Hypertension, Pregnancy-Induced / Q000523:psychology*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D016015:Logistic Models; D008603:Mental Health; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires