title: Obstetric outcome after intervention for severe fear of childbirth in nulliparous women - randomised trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the numbers of vaginal deliveries and delivery satisfaction among women with fear of childbirth randomised to either psychoeducation or conventional surveillance during pregnancy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomised controlled trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Maternity unit of Helsinki University Central Hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fear of childbirth was screened during early pregnancy by the Wijma Delivery Expectancy Questionnaire (W-DEQ-A). Of 4575 screened nulliparous women, 371 (8.1%) scored ≥ 100, showing severe fear of childbirth.
  
  
  METHODS
  Women with W-DEQ-A ≥ 100 were randomised to intervention (n = 131) (psychoeducative group therapy, six sessions during pregnancy and one after childbirth) or control (n = 240) (care by community nurses and referral if necessary) groups. Obstetric data were collected from patient records and delivery satisfaction was examined by questionnaire.
  
  
  METHODS
  Delivery mode and satisfaction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Women randomised to the intervention group more often had spontaneous vaginal delivery (SVD) than did controls (63.4% versus 47.5%, P = 0.005) and fewer caesarean sections (CSs) (22.9% versus 32.5%, P = 0.05). SVD was more frequent and CSs were less frequent among those who actually participated in intervention (n = 90) compared with controls who had been referred to consultation (n = 106) (SVD: 65.6% versus 47.2%, P = 0.014; CS: 23.3% versus 38.7%, P = 0.031). Women in intervention more often had a very positive delivery experience (36.1% versus 22.8%, P = 0.04, n = 219).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To decrease the number of CSs, appropriate treatment for fear of childbirth is important. This study shows positive effects of psychoeducative group therapy in nulliparous women with severe fear of childbirth in terms of fewer CSs and more satisfactory delivery experiences relative to control women with a similar severe fear of childbirth.
authors.affiliation: Helsinki University Central Hospital, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Helsinki, Finland. hanna.rouhe@helsinki.fi
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rouhe
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Salmela-Aro
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Toivanen
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tokola
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Halmesmäki
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Saisto
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000523:psychology; D005239:Fear; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D006801:Humans; D010298:Parity; D036801:Parturition / Q000523:psychology*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome / Q000523:psychology*; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods*