Psychological impact of the detection of soft markers on routine ultrasound scanning: a pilot study investigating the modifying role of information.

Abstract

To determine the impact on maternal anxiety of detecting a soft marker, and the association between anxiety and the information given during the scan. Routine 20-week fetal anomaly scans were audiotaped in the obstetric ultrasound unit of a London teaching hospital, across a four month study period. The study sample comprised 28 pregnant women: 14 in whom a soft marker was detected and a comparison group of 14 women in whom no marker was identified. Telephone interviews were conducted within one week of the scan, at 30 weeks' gestation, and one month after the birth of their children. The main outcome was anxiety, assessed using a standardized scale. Information provided during the scan was coded from transcripts. In the week following the scan, women with soft markers had clinically significant levels of anxiety. At 30 weeks' gestation and one month post-partum their levels were within the normal range. Women who were told during their scan that their baby would probably be all right, compared with women not told this, were significantly less anxious and worried about their baby. Results from this small longitudinal study suggest that the detection of soft markers on routine prenatal ultrasound causes considerable short-term anxiety for women and that providing reassurance during the scan may prevent some of this anxiety.