title: The effect of stress and anxiety associated with maternal prenatal diagnosis on feto-maternal attachment.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A couple's decision to undergo an invasive test based on a screening test result is a process associated with anxiety. The aim of this study was to determine whether anxiety and prenatal attachment were affected by undergoing an invasive test compared to women in early pregnancy and after a reassuring anomaly scan.
  
  
  METHODS
  200 women were recruited at booking, 14 women and 20 partners after an invasive test and 81 women following an anomaly scan. A questionnaire was completed using the Beck Anxiety Inventory and Maternal or Paternal Antenatal Attachment Scales.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Women who have had an invasive test have higher levels of anxiety compared to women at booking (P < 0.01) and after an anomaly scan (P = 0.002). Anxiety declines from booking to the time of an anomaly scan (P = 0.025), whilst attachment increases (P < 0.001). There is a positive correlation between anxiety and attachment in women who have had an invasive test (r = 0.479). Partners of women undergoing an invasive test experience lower levels of anxiety (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Women undergoing prenatal diagnostic procedures experience more psychological distress, which may be currently underestimated. Establishment of interdisciplinary treatment settings where access to psychological support is facilitated may be beneficial.
authors.affiliation: Academic Unit of Reproductive and Developmental Medicine, University of Sheffield, 4th Floor, Jessop Wing, Tree Root Walk, Sheffield, S10 2SF, UK. sarajaneallison@gmail.com
authors.forename: Sara J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Allison
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Stafford
authors.forename: Dilly O C
authors.initials: DO
authors.lastname: Anumba
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000209:etiology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005220:Fathers / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D033261:Maternal-Fetal Relations / Q000523:psychology*; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology*