title: Psychopathology, emotional aspects and psychological counselling in infertility: a review.
abstract: Over the years, infertility has been variably defined. Infertility affects approximately 80 million people from all parts of the world. An important area of discussion has been represented by the possible causal link between psychopathology and infertility. In the past, the prevalence of psychiatric problems among infertile couples was estimated to be 25-60%. The incidence of depression and anxiety in infertile couples is significantly high than in fertile controls and in the general population respectively. Infertility has been linked to obsessive-compulsive symptoms, psychoticism, substance abuse and eating disorders. Psychological impact of infertility is greater in women than in men. Additionally, authors found that infertile patients were more alexithymic than healthy controls. In relation to the different needs, different psychological therapeutic interventions may be indicated. Psychological counseling can provide valuable assistance in dealing with infertility treatments and their eventual failures.
authors.affiliation: NHS, Department of Mental Health, Psychiatric Service of Diagnosis and Treatment, Hospital "G. Mazzini", ASL 4 Teramo - Department of Neurosciences and Imaging, Chair of Psychiatry, University "G. D'Annunzio", Chieti.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: De Berardis
authors.affiliation: Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mazza
authors.affiliation: NHS, Department of Mental Health, Psychiatric Service of Diagnosis and Treatment, Hospital "G. Mazzini", ASL 4 Teramo - Department of Neurosciences and Imaging, Chair of Psychiatry, University "G. D'Annunzio", Chieti.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Marini
authors.affiliation: NHS, Department of Mental Health, Psychiatric Service of Diagnosis and Treatment, Hospital "G. Mazzini", ASL 4 Teramo.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Del Nibletto
authors.affiliation: NHS, Department of Mental Health, Psychiatric Service of Diagnosis and Treatment, Hospital "G. Mazzini", ASL 4 Teramo.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Serroni
authors.affiliation: Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila.
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Pino
authors.affiliation: Hermanas Hospitalarias, FoRiPsi, Villa S. Giuseppe Hospital, Ascoli Piceno.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Valchera
authors.affiliation: Department of "Scienze della Formazione", University of Teramo.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ortolani
authors.affiliation: U.O.C. Obstetrics and Gynecology, ASL 4 Teramo, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ciarrocchi
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosciences and Imaging, Chair of Psychiatry, University "G. D'Annunzio", Chieti.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Martinotti
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosciences and Imaging, Chair of Psychiatry, University "G. D'Annunzio", Chieti.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Di Giannantonio
mesh_terms: D001007:Anxiety / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D003376:Counseling; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007246:Infertility / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods