Laboratory of Psychopathology and Health Processes, University of Paris, Paris, France.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Intercommunal Hospital Center, Poissy, France.
J Midwifery Womens Health. 2022 Jul;67(4):496-503. doi: 10.1111/jmwh.13350. Epub 2022 Mar 4.
Identifying factors that are predictive for postpartum posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is important to inform clinical and research practice. Yet prospective longitudinal studies investigating symptoms of postpartum PTSD and their prevalence, evolution, comorbidities, and predictors remain limited. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of women's symptoms of PTSD at different times in the postpartum period and to identify comorbidities and predictive factors in a French-speaking sample.
A total of 168 women participated in this longitudinal study, which included 3 assessment points: immediate postpartum, 2 months postpartum, and 6 months postpartum. Participants filled out questionnaires regarding sociodemographic characteristics, pregnancy, and birth outcomes; subjective perceptions of birth; and symptoms of depression, anxiety, and PTSD.
Among the participants, 11.7% reported having symptoms of PTSD 2 months after birth and 10.5% reported having symptoms 6 months after birth. Regarding comorbidities and associated factors, depressive symptoms, poor marital adjustment, and impaired maternal-infant bonding were significantly and positively correlated with symptoms of PTSD. Peritraumatic distress, negative perceived childbirth experience, and complications and perceived difficulties during birth were predictive factors for postpartum PTSD.
More than 1 in 10 women experienced symptoms of postpartum PTSD. Health care professionals need to be aware of symptoms of postpartum PTSD, predictive factors, and comorbidities to be able to better identify women presenting those symptoms and refer them for appropriate psychological support.
识别与产后创伤后应激障碍（PTSD）相关的预测因素对于指导临床和研究实践非常重要。然而，关于产后 PTSD 症状及其患病率、演变、共病和预测因素的前瞻性纵向研究仍然有限。本研究旨在评估法语人群产后不同时期 PTSD 症状的患病率，并确定共病和预测因素。
共有 168 名女性参与了这项纵向研究，包括 3 个评估点：产后即刻、产后 2 个月和产后 6 个月。参与者填写了关于社会人口特征、妊娠和分娩结局、主观分娩体验以及抑郁、焦虑和 PTSD 症状的问卷。
在参与者中，11.7%的人在产后 2 个月时报告有 PTSD 症状，10.5%的人在产后 6 个月时报告有 PTSD 症状。关于共病和相关因素，抑郁症状、婚姻调整不良以及母婴联系受损与 PTSD 症状呈显著正相关。围产期痛苦、对分娩经历的负面感知以及分娩过程中的并发症和感知困难是产后 PTSD 的预测因素。
超过 10%的女性经历了产后 PTSD 症状。医疗保健专业人员需要了解产后 PTSD 的症状、预测因素和共病，以便能够更好地识别出现这些症状的女性，并为她们提供适当的心理支持。
