University of Sussex
Browse

File(s) not publicly available

Post-traumatic stress disorder after childbirth: Analysis of symptom presentation and sampling

journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-07, 18:18 authored by Susan Ayers, Rachel Harris, Alexandra Sawyer, Ylva Parfitt, Elizabeth FordElizabeth Ford
Background: There is converging evidence that approximately 2% of women fulfill PTSD criteria following childbirth. This study examined the presentation and symptom structure of PTSD after birth and key risk factors in women from internet and community samples. Methods: PTSD was measured in 1423 women after birth recruited via the community (n = 502) or internet (n = 921). Demographic, obstetric, and trauma history variables were also measured. Results: Full PTSD diagnostic criteria were endorsed by 2.5% of women from the community and 21% of women on the internet. Many more endorsed individual PTSD symptom criteria, suggesting this might be inflated by postnatal factors. Samples differed on demographic and obstetric characteristics. Factor analysis found two PTSD symptom clusters of re-experiencing and avoidance (RA) and numbing and arousal (NA). PTSD cases were predicted by parity, delivery type, NA and RA symptoms, and the interaction between sexual trauma and delivery type. This correctly identified 60% of PTSD cases. Limitations: Questionnaire measurement of PTSD means prevalence rates may be over-estimated. Differences between samples suggest that internet samples over represent symptomatic women. Conclusions: Results emphasise the importance of measuring full diagnostic criteria in postnatal samples, as reports of symptoms may be inflated. In addition a few risk factors are identified that could be used to screen for women at risk.

History

Publication status

  • Published

Journal

Journal of Affective Disorders

ISSN

0165-0327

Issue

1-3

Volume

119

Page range

200-204

Pages

4.0

Department affiliated with

  • Psychology Publications

Full text available

  • No

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2012-02-06

Usage metrics

    University of Sussex (Publications)

    Categories

    No categories selected

    Exports

    RefWorks
    BibTeX
    Ref. manager
    Endnote
    DataCite
    NLM
    DC