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Am J Perinatol 2016; 33(08): 770-775
DOI: 10.1055/s-0036-1572543
Original Article
Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Seeing Their Children in Pain: Symptoms of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Mothers of Children with an Anomaly Requiring Surgery at Birth

Lucia Aite
1   Unit of Clinical Psychology, Department of Neuroscience and Neurorehabilitation, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
,
Francesca Bevilacqua
1   Unit of Clinical Psychology, Department of Neuroscience and Neurorehabilitation, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
,
Antonio Zaccara
2   Department of Pediatric Surgery, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
,
Edoardo La Sala
3   Centro dati, Fondazione GINEMA, Rome, Italy
,
Simonetta Gentile
1   Unit of Clinical Psychology, Department of Neuroscience and Neurorehabilitation, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
,
Pietro Bagolan
4   Department of Neonatal Medicine and Surgery, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

07 August 2015

29 December 2015

Publication Date:
18 February 2016 (online)

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Abstract

Objective Assess the presence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in mothers of newborns requiring early surgery.

Study Design Mothers of newborns operated on for a congenital anomaly underwent a semi-structured interview on their experience 6 months postpartum. Interviews were audiotaped, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed for symptoms of the three major criteria of PTSD: re-experiencing, avoidance, and heightened arousal.

Results A total of 120 mothers took part in the study; their children were affected by one of the following congenital anomaly: esophageal atresia (n = 29); congenital diaphragmatic hernia (n = 38); midgut malformations (n = 38); and abdominal wall defects (n = 15). Two mothers did not show any symptoms; 12 mothers (10%) had one posttraumatic symptom, 77 (64.2%) had two, and 29 (24.2%) had three. Overall, 106 mothers (88.4%) presented at least two symptoms.

Conclusion PTSD can be considered a useful model to describe and comprehend mothers' reactions in this specific population. Preventive interventions and dedicated follow-up program should be offered to these families.

Keywords

posttraumatic stress disorder - noncardiac congenital anomaly - neonatal intensive care - newborn surgery
 

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