Women's Experiences of Symptoms of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) After Traumatic Childbirth: a Review and Critical Appraisal

Overview

Journal Arch Womens Ment Health

Publisher Springer

Specialties Gynecology & Obstetrics
Psychiatry
Psychology

Date 2015 Aug 13

PMID 26264506

Citations 22

Authors

Stella James

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

This paper critically analyses nine studies on postnatal posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following traumatic childbirth, in order to find common themes of PTSD symptoms, using the cognitive model of PTSD as a guide; it critically appraised one of the studies in depth and it attempted to explain the lived experience of women suffering from postnatal PTSD following traumatic childbirth and the suitability of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) for postnatal PTSD. This paper found that women following traumatic childbirth do experience postnatal PTSD; postnatal PTSD symptoms are similar to PTSD symptoms of other events and that CBT for PTSD of other events is just as effective for postnatal PTSD. Future recommendations include more qualitative studies with interpretative phenomenological approach in order to establish evidence-based CBT treatment for this client group, and more referrals need to be sent to the psychological services for CBT intervention.

Citing Articles

The current status of psychological birth trauma in women who had a vaginal delivery and associated factors: a questionnaire-based, cross-sectional study.

Qin H, Wei W, Feng X, Yang X Front Public Health. 2025; 13:1539305.

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Perception of traumatic childbirth of women, influencing factors and its relationship with post-traumatic stress disorder.

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Mediating role of childbirth readiness in the relationship between social support and psychological birth trauma in primiparous women: a nationwide cross-sectional study in China.

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The influence of sense of coherence on psychological birth trauma: a parallel mediation model based on health Salutogenesis theory.

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Risk factors associated with postpartum depression and PTSD after birth in a sample of Slovak women.

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