Περίληψη:
Objectives: The aim of the study was to investigate the levels of
anxiety and depression, as well as liability to depression, of women
undergoing chorionic villus sampling (CVS) due to the risk of giving
birth to a child suffering from hemoglobinopathy, or trisomy. Methods:
The study population consisted of 309 women who attended the Fetal
Medicine Unit of Alexandra Hospital, University of Athens, Athens,
Greece for a first trimester chorionic villus sampling (CVS). One
hundred and fifty-nine women (group A) underwent CVS due to increased
possibility of carrying an embryo with beta-thalassemia, while 150 women
had the procedure because of an increased nuchal translucency
measurement, or a positive first trimester biochemical screening (group
B). Three hundred and nine women, matched by age and gestational age
with those of the study group, who were not subjected to any diagnostic
intervention formed the control group. We further investigated
differences of dysthymic reactions among three subgroups of women at
risk for hemoglobinopathy: (a) women undergoing their first pregnancy;
(b) women who had been pregnant more than once but had not any children,
and ( c) women who had given birth to at least one healthy child,
irrespective of previous terminations. Results: The incidence of
clinically elevated levels of anxiety and depression was significantly
higher in groups A and B compared to controls (p<0.001), while no
significant difference was found in mean anxiety and depression, as well
as the liability to depression among the three groups. Clinically
elevated levels of depression were found in 10.1 and 4.7% of the women
of the hemoglobinopathy and karyotyping group, respectively. Especially
women who had no children, due to previous pregnancy terminations
presented significantly higher incidence of elevated depression compared
to women who were pregnant for the first time, or women who had given
birth to at least one healthy child in their life. Conclusions: The
findings of this study highlight the necessity of training medical and
nursing personnel to understand and respond to the psychological and
social needs of women undergoing CVS due to increased risk for
hemoglobinopathy, and especially to those who have no children and who
have a history of pregnancy termination due to an affected fetus.
Copyright (C) 2004 S. Karger AG, Basel.
Συγγραφείς:
Lykeridou, K
Daskalakis, G
Papadatou, D
