Gestational Trophoblastic Disease: psychological impact and the role of defence mechanisms during illness and follow-up

Abstract

Gestational Trophoblastic Disease (GTD) is a group of disorders that derive from the placenta and arise after a rare gestational event. They can be divided into pre-malignant forms (partial and complete hydatidiform mole) and malignant forms called Gestational Trophoblastic Neoplasia (GTN). Despite a favourable prognosis, the nature of this group of disorders can be a source of stress for patients who are affected by this disease. Thirty-one patients diagnosed with GTD completed a battery of self-administered questionnaires aimed at analysing the psychological adaptation of the patients to the disease. The variables analysed were the following: defense mechanisms, anxiety, depression and infertility-related stress. Patients with GTN use mature defense mechanisms significantly more than patients with hydatidiform mole. Regression analyses highlight that, considering demographic and clinical variables, immature defense mechanisms are significantly related to state anxiety. Immature defence mechanisms also significantly predict infertility-related global stress. The results show the importance of taking into consideration defense mechanisms used by patients, as they are involved in the modulation of psychological adaptation to GTD.