title: Identifying expectant parents at risk for psychological distress in response to a confirmed fetal abnormality.
abstract: The aim of the study was to determine the incidence of psychological distress among expectant women carrying fetuses with prenatal diagnosed abnormalities and their partners. A 2-year retrospective medical chart review was completed of 1032 expectant mothers carrying fetuses with a confirmed anomaly, and 788 expectant fathers, who completed the CFDT Mental Health Screening Tool. Furthermore, 19.3 % of women and 13.1 % of men reported significant post-traumatic stress symptoms, and 14 % of men and 23 % of women scored positive for a major depressive disorder. Higher risk was noted among expectant parents of younger age and minority racial/ethnic status, and women with post-college level education and current or prior use of antidepressant medications. Heightened distress was noted within fetal diagnostic subgroups including neck masses, sacrococcygeal teratomas, neurological defects, and miscellaneous diagnoses. Incorporating screening tools into prenatal practice can help clinicians better identify the potential risk for psychological distress among expectant parents within high-risk fetal settings.
authors.affiliation: Center for Fetal Diagnosis and Treatment, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, 34th Street & Civic Center Blvd., Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA. colej3@email.chop.edu.
authors.forename: Joanna C M
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Cole
authors.affiliation: Center for Fetal Diagnosis and Treatment, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, 34th Street & Civic Center Blvd., Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
authors.forename: Julie S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Moldenhauer
authors.affiliation: Drexel University College of Medicine, 2900 West Queen Lane, Philadelphia, PA, 19129, USA.
authors.forename: Kelsey
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Berger
authors.affiliation: Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, 518 Blockley Hall, 423 Guardian Drive, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
authors.forename: Mark S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Cary
authors.affiliation: Center for Fetal Diagnosis and Treatment, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, 34th Street & Civic Center Blvd., Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
authors.forename: Haley
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: Drexel University College of Medicine, 2900 West Queen Lane, Philadelphia, PA, 19129, USA.
authors.forename: Victoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Martino
authors.affiliation: Center for Fetal Diagnosis and Treatment, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, 34th Street & Civic Center Blvd., Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
authors.forename: Norma
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rendon
authors.affiliation: Center for Fetal Diagnosis and Treatment, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, 34th Street & Civic Center Blvd., Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
authors.forename: Lori J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Howell
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001007:Anxiety / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D000013:Congenital Abnormalities / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D005220:Fathers / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D015143:Philadelphia / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011295:Prenatal Care; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Fetal anomaly; High-risk pregnancy; Perinatal depression; Prenatal diagnosis; Psychological distress