An open trial with cognitive behavioral therapy for blood- and injection phobia in pregnant women-a group intervention program.
Around 7% of pregnant women suffer from blood- and injection phobia. The aim was to investigate if cognitive behavior group therapy (CBT) is effective in treating pregnant women's blood- and injection phobia. Thirty pregnant women with blood- and injection phobia according to DSM-IV took part in an open treatment intervention. A two-session cognitive behavior group therapy was conducted. As controls, 46 pregnant women with untreated blood- and injection phobia and 70 healthy pregnant women were used. Repeated measures ANOVA were performed. The scores for the CBT treatment group on the "Injection Phobia Scale-Anxiety" were reduced both after each treatment session and postpartum (p < 0.001). Anxiety and depressive symptoms were also reduced (p < 0.001). Cognitive-behavior group therapy for pregnant women with blood- and injection phobia is effective and stable up to at least 3 months postpartum. It seems also to reduce anxiety and depressive symptoms during pregnancy.
Division of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden. Caroline.Lilliecreutz@lio.se
Caroline
C
Lilliecreutz
Ann
A
Josefsson
Gunilla
G
Sydsjö
D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000517:prevention & control; D001769:Blood; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D003863:Depression / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections; D010698:Phobic Disorders; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group