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.
Lilliecreutz
Caroline
C
Division of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden. Caroline.Lilliecreutz@lio.se
Josefsson
Ann
A
Sydsjö
Gunilla
G
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