Psychiatric morbidity following miscarriage in Hong Kong.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study is to examine the pattern of psychiatric morbidity up to 3 months following miscarriage and to identify the risk factors of post-miscarriage depressive disorder among Chinese women in Hong Kong.


METHODS
This is a longitudinal cohort study. Women were interviewed immediately after miscarriage to collect psychiatric and sociodemographic data. Three months later, 161 subjects (89%) were assessed by a 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) and the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders (SCID) as screening and diagnostic instruments, respectively.


RESULTS
Three months after miscarriage, 10% of subjects suffered depressive disorder, 1.2% were diagnosed with anxiety disorder not otherwise specified, and another two subjects each suffered obsessive compulsive disorder (0.6%) and posttraumatic stress disorder (0.6%), respectively. Risk factors of post-miscarriage depression included younger age, history of infertility and past history of depression.


CONCLUSIONS
Given the local annual figure of more than 7000 first-trimester miscarriages, about 900 local women suffer post-miscarriage psychiatric disorder each year. This finding may prompt general hospitals in Hong Kong to screen for post-miscarriage psychiatric disorders, particularly depression.
Sham
Adrian kwan-ho
Ak
Department of Psychiatry, United Christian Hospital, Hong Kong 852. skh663@ha.org.hk
Yiu
Michael gar-chung
Mg
Ho
Winsom yau-bong
Wy
D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous / Q000523:psychology*; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006723:Hong Kong / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008403:Mass Screening; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011594:Psychometrics; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires