Dissociative experience during childbirth.
OBJECTIVE
A dissociative experience refers to phenomena such as depersonalization, derealization, amnesia, out of body experience, altered time perception and body image. The aim of this study was to assess dissociative experience during childbirth and the possible related variables.


METHODS
A total of 328 women, up to 72 hours postpartum, completed the peritraumatic dissociative experience questionnaire (PDEQ), the socio-demographic and obstetrical questionnaire, the pain numeric rating scale, the Trauma History Questionnaire and an SCID-I for traumatic events.


RESULTS
A total of 11.3% of the sample experienced significant dissociation. In particular, symptoms like a sensation of time changes during the event/things seemed to be happening in slow motion, not being aware of things that happened, and disorientation. A traumatic childbirth, previous trauma, obstetrical complications, forceps, prematurity, complications with the baby, dissatisfaction with the maternity care, unemployment, high score pain during labor and years of schooling were the factors considered.


CONCLUSIONS
Dissociative experiences can occur during childbirth.
Neuropsychiatry, Federal University of Permanbuco, Professor Moraes Rego 1235, Cidadeuniversitaria, Recife, Brazil. carlafza@hotmail.com
Carla Fonseca
CF
Zambaldi
Amaury
A
Cantilino
Jacqueline Albuquerque
JA
Farias
Gustavo Paranhos
GP
Moraes
Everton Botelho
EB
Sougey
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D004213:Dissociative Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D007744:Obstetric Labor Complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D036801:Parturition / Q000523:psychology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D040921:Stress Disorders, Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology