title: Fathers with PTSD and depression in pregnancies complicated by preterm preeclampsia or PPROM.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess prevalence and risk factors for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression in fathers after early preeclampsia (PE) or preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM).
  
  
  METHODS
  Partners of patients hospitalized for PE or PPROM and partners of healthy controls completed PTSD (PSS-SR) and depression (BDI-II) questionnaires during pregnancy (t 1) and 6 weeks postpartum (t 2). 85 of the 187 eligible men participated (51 partners of patients, 34 partners of control) at t 1, and 66 men participated both time points.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No significant differences were found between partners of patients and partners of controls in symptoms of PTSD and depression (t 1: p = 0.28 for PTSD and p = 0.34 for depression; t 2: p = 0.08 for PTSD and p = 0.31 for depression). For partners of patients, correlation between PTSD and depression sum-scores was 0.48 (p < 0.001) at t 1 and 0.86 (p < 0.001) at t 2. Within-couple correlation was low and not significant during pregnancy, but strong at postpartum (PSS-SR: r = 0.62, p < 0.001; BDI-II: r = 0.59, p < 0.001). Higher paternal age was associated with more symptoms of PTSD and depression postpartum in partners of patients. Symptoms of PTSD and depression during pregnancy predicted the occurrence of PTSD symptoms following childbirth in partners of patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Symptoms of PTSD and depression occurred at a similar rate in partners of women with PE or PPROM and partners of healthy pregnant controls. Symptoms of PTSD and depression during pregnancy predicted the occurrence of PTSD symptoms following childbirth. Increased paternal age predicted more symptoms of PTSD and depression postpartum. At 6 weeks postpartum, a strong association was found between men and women in symptoms of PTSD and depression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology (CB 21), University Medical Center Groningen, PO Box 30001, 9700 RB Groningen, The Netherlands. c.a.i.stramrood@umcg.nl
authors.forename: Claire A I
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Stramrood
authors.forename: Bennard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Doornbos
authors.forename: Ineke
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Wessel
authors.forename: Marloes
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: van Geenen
authors.forename: Jan G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Aarnoudse
authors.forename: Paul P
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: van den Berg
authors.forename: Willibrord C M
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Weijmar Schultz
authors.forename: Maria G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: van Pampus
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D005220:Fathers / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005322:Premature Rupture of Fetal Membranes / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000523:psychology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D018454:Spouses / Q000523:psychology; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology