Abstract
A birth experience with cesarean section (CS) can be a cause of the development of post-traumatic stress disorder after a cesarean (PTSD-AC) or profile PTSD, for a percentage of women. So far, there is no data on the frequency of PTSD-AC in Greece and this syndrome is often associated with other mental disorders of the postpartum period. The purpose of this research is to associate the kind of CS with PTSD-AC for Greek mothers and the combination of factors that make them less resistant to trauma. A sample of ahundred and sixty-six mothers who gave birth with emergency cesarean section (EMCS) and elective cesarean section (ELCS) at a Greek University hospital have consented to participate in the two phases of the survey, in the 2nd day postpartum and a follow-up in the 6th week postpartum. Medical/demographic data and a life events checklist (LEC-5) with Criterion A and post-traumatic stress checklist (PCL-5) were used to diagnose PTSD and PTSD Profile. Out of166 mothers enrolled, 160 replied to the follow-up (96.4%), ELCS 97 (97%) and EMCS 63 (95%). Twenty (31.7%) EMCS had PTSD and nine (14.3%) had Profile. One (1%) ELCS had PTSD and 4 (4.1%) had Profile. This survey shows a high prevalence rate of PTSD after EMCS with additional risk factors of preterm labor, inclusion in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), a lack of breastfeeding, and a lack of support from the partner.
Highlights
Posttraumatic stress disorder(PTSD) is a trauma-related stress disorder caused by exposure to real or threatened death, heavy injury or a threat of physical integrity in various forms of exposure, such as direct exposure, exposure as a witness, exposure through information or extreme repeated exposure to the workplace
Approval: 18838/08-05-2019.The present study is using a descriptive design for the recording of the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder after a cesarean (PTSD-AC) within 6 weeks postpartum and the risk factors that may lead to the development of this disorder
The results show that 40% of women experienced cesarean section (CS) as a traumatic childbirth experience (EMCS 71.4%-elective cesarean section (ELCS) 19.6%)
Summary
Posttraumatic stress disorder(PTSD) is a trauma-related stress disorder caused by exposure to real or threatened death, heavy injury or a threat of physical integrity in various forms of exposure, such as direct exposure, exposure as a witness, exposure through information or extreme repeated exposure to the workplace. The prevalence of PTSD is two times greater in women than in men whichshows how it is influenced by childbirth experiences, hormonal disorders, stressful life events and domestic violence [2]. PTSD Profile includes the most important symptoms of PTSD, yet people exposed to the trauma, do not meet all the diagnostic criteria of the disorder. This is partial PTSD, which has been shown to be associated with increased rates of alcoholism, suicidal ideation, overconsumption of health services, and an increase in absences in the working environment
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