Psychological reactions to pregnancy loss
1999; Elsevier BV; Volume: 6; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1016/s1068-607x(98)00176-0
ISSN1878-4283
Autores Tópico(s)Maternal and Perinatal Health Interventions
ResumoMiscarriage is a common event, affecting 15–20% of known pregnancies, yet the psychological repercussions are often not recognized. The emotional reactions to miscarriage can best be understood as part of a grieving process. In early stages of pregnancy, a woman feels a sense of oneness with the fetus, which represents her hopes and dreams, and those of her partner. This tends to magnify the impact of the loss. Customary societal rituals are often unavailable. Guilt, anger, and somatic complaints often accompany grief. Depression and anxiety are common in the week or months following miscarriage but tend to fall to community levels by 1 year. Rates of depression of 22–55% have been reported. Grief is often difficult to differentiate from a depressive disorder. The primary practitioner is in a good position to provide support to patients following a miscarriage and to monitor for the development of depression, anxiety, or substance abuse. Useful interventions include encouraging patients to discuss their feelings about the miscarriage, providing educational materials or referral to support groups, and treating psychiatric complications as indicated or providing mental health referral.
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