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Fathers with PTSD and depression in pregnancies complicated by preterm preeclampsia or PPROM

  • Maternal-Fetal Medicine
  • Published:
Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

To assess prevalence and risk factors for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression in fathers after early preeclampsia (PE) or preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM).

Methods

Partners of patients hospitalized for PE or PPROM and partners of healthy controls completed PTSD (PSS-SR) and depression (BDI-II) questionnaires during pregnancy (t 1) and 6 weeks postpartum (t 2). 85 of the 187 eligible men participated (51 partners of patients, 34 partners of control) at t 1, and 66 men participated both time points.

Results

No significant differences were found between partners of patients and partners of controls in symptoms of PTSD and depression (t 1: p = 0.28 for PTSD and p = 0.34 for depression; t 2: p = 0.08 for PTSD and p = 0.31 for depression). For partners of patients, correlation between PTSD and depression sum-scores was 0.48 (p < 0.001) at t 1 and 0.86 (p < 0.001) at t 2. Within-couple correlation was low and not significant during pregnancy, but strong at postpartum (PSS-SR: r = 0.62, p < 0.001; BDI-II: r = 0.59, p < 0.001). Higher paternal age was associated with more symptoms of PTSD and depression postpartum in partners of patients. Symptoms of PTSD and depression during pregnancy predicted the occurrence of PTSD symptoms following childbirth in partners of patients.

Conclusions

Symptoms of PTSD and depression occurred at a similar rate in partners of women with PE or PPROM and partners of healthy pregnant controls. Symptoms of PTSD and depression during pregnancy predicted the occurrence of PTSD symptoms following childbirth. Increased paternal age predicted more symptoms of PTSD and depression postpartum. At 6 weeks postpartum, a strong association was found between men and women in symptoms of PTSD and depression.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by an Innovational Research Incentive VIDI grant (452-03-329) of the Foundation for Behavioural and Educational Sciences of the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO) awarded to I. W.

Conflict of interest

We declare that we have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology (CB 21), University Medical Center Groningen, PO Box 30001, 9700 RB, Groningen, The Netherlands

    Claire A. I. Stramrood, Marloes van Geenen, Jan G. Aarnoudse, Paul P. van den Berg & Willibrord C. M. Weijmar Schultz

  2. University Center for Psychiatry, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands

    Bennard Doornbos

  3. Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands

    Ineke Wessel

  4. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Onze Lieve Vrouwe Gasthuis, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Maria G. van Pampus

Authors
  1. Claire A. I. Stramrood
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  2. Bennard Doornbos
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  3. Ineke Wessel
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  4. Marloes van Geenen
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  5. Jan G. Aarnoudse
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Correspondence to Claire A. I. Stramrood.

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Stramrood, C.A.I., Doornbos, B., Wessel, I. et al. Fathers with PTSD and depression in pregnancies complicated by preterm preeclampsia or PPROM. Arch Gynecol Obstet 287, 653–661 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-012-2611-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-012-2611-0

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