Grief after pregnancy loss was predicted by length of pregnancy, neuroticism, psychiatric symptoms, and absence of other children

摘要

ObjectiveTo determine the factors that predict grief intensity in women who have a pregnancy loss.DesignInception cohort of women followed up for 18 months after an involuntary pregnancy loss.SettingThe Netherlands.Patients2140 recently pregnant women recruited through a notice in a popular family magazine provided information on coping with normal pregnancy, delivery, and complications. 227 women (10.6%) subsequently reported spontaneous loss of the pregnancy and 221 of these were studied. 91% of the losses occurred at <20 weeks of pregnancy, 97% of the women were married or in stable relationships, mean age was 29 years, 32% did not have children, and 41% had had a previous pregnancy loss. Follow up was 94%. Assessment of prognostic factorsRisk factors were assessed using the Dutch version of the Symptom Checklist-90 (psychiatric symptoms) and the Dutch Personality Questionnaire.