One in six women experience long-term post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy. This is the finding of the largest-ever study into the psychological effect of early-stage pregnancy loss, led by Imperial College London.
The research, published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, studied over 650 women who had experienced an early pregnancy loss, of whom the majority had suffered an early miscarriage (defined as pregnancy loss before 12 weeks) or an ectopic pregnancy.
The study revealed that criteria for PTSD were met in 29 per cent of women with early pregnancy loss after one month and in 18 per cent after nine months (adjusted OR [aOR] per month, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.72-0.89). Moderate/severe anxiety was reported in 24 per cent after one month and in 17% after nine months (aOR per month, 0.69; 95% CI, 0.50-0.94). Moderate/severe depression was reported in 11 per cent and 6 per cent, respectively (aOR per month, 0.87; 95% CI, 0.53-1.44).
In contrast, among women with viable pregnancies, 13 per cent reported moderate-severe anxiety (aOR at one month, 2.14; 95% CI, 1.14-4.36) and 2 per cent had moderate-severe depression (aOR at one month, 3.88; 95% CI, 1.27-19.2).
“It is recognised that PTSD in other contexts can have a significant impact on work, social interaction, healthcare utilisation and risks in future pregnancies. Given annual incidences of miscarriage and ectopic, this points to a significant public health issue,” the authors say.
“Our clinical management must be more sensitive to the psychological implications of early pregnancy loss,” they say.
