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Cited by 96Grief, Bereavement, and Mental HealthMaternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and PostpartumPsychoanalysis and Psychopathology Research

Complicated grief after traumatic loss: A 14-month follow up study

Kersting, Anette, Kroker, K., Steinhard, J., Lüdorff, K., Wesselmann, U., Ohrmann, P., Arolt, V., Suslow, T.·2007·European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience
DOI 10.1007/s00406-007-0743-1
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Abstract

The traumatic loss of an unborn child after TOP due to fetal malformation and/or severe chromosomal disorders in late pregnancy is a major life-event and a potential source of serious psychological problems for those women. To obtain information on the course of grief following a traumatic loss, 62 women who had undergone TOP between the 15th and 32nd gestational week were investigated in a longitudinal study design and compared with 65 women after spontaneous delivery of a full-term healthy child. Grief, posttraumatic stress, depression, anxiety and psychiatric disorders were evaluated 14 days, 6 months and 14 months after the event, implementing validated self-report and clinician rated instruments. Compared to women after spontaneous delivery, women after induced TOP were significantly more stressed regarding all psychological outcomes at all three measuring points. Especially, 14 months after TOP 13.7% of the women fulfilled all criteria of a complicated grief diagnoses following Horowitz et al. (1997, Am J Psychiat 154:7904-7910). 16.7% were diagnosed as having a manifest psychiatric disorder according to DSM-IV. All in all, 25% of these women were critically affected by the traumatic loss. TOP for fetal anomaly is to be seen as a major life event, which causes complicated grief reactions and psychiatric disorders for a substantial number of women.

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  • Predictors of negative long-term outcome after pregnancy termination include high level of distress immediately after the procedure, low self-efficacy, lack of support from the partner, and high levels of doubt whilst making the decision.

    “Several predictors of negative longterm outcome after pregnancy termination, including high level of distress immediately after the procedure, low self-efficacy, lack of support from the partner, and high levels of doubt whilst making the decision.42,44”

    From Complicated grief after perinatal loss (2012) · cites this paper as [42]

  • Findings on demographic factors have also been inconsistent in women.

    “For example, findings on demographic factors have also been inconsistent.”

    From Men’s grief following pregnancy loss and neonatal loss: a systematic review and emerging theoretical model (2020) · cites this paper as [102]

  • Involvement in religious activity and strength of religious faith have been inversely associated with grief in some studies but not others.

    “Involvement in religious activity and strength of religious faith have been inversely associated with grief in some studies [101, 102] but not others [103].”

    From Men’s grief following pregnancy loss and neonatal loss: a systematic review and emerging theoretical model (2020) · cites this paper as [102]

  • Loss of an unborn child after discovery during pregnancy of fetal malformation or severe chromosomal disorders can be considered a traumatic life event with high psychological impact, especially if termination takes place in the 2nd or 3rd trimester.

    “A number of recent studies have revealed that the loss of an unborn child after discovery during pregnancy of fetal malformation or severe chromosomal disorders can be considered as a traumatic life event with high psychological impact. This is especially relevant if the termination of pregnancy takes place in the 2nd or 3rd trimester of pregnancy.41-43”

    From Complicated grief after perinatal loss (2012) · cites this paper as [42]

  • Firmer religious faith, assessed 14 days after the loss, predicted lower levels of complicated grief 14 months later after termination.

    “Interestingly, firmer religious faith, as assessed 14 days after the loss, predicted lower levels of CG 14 months later.42”

    From Complicated grief after perinatal loss (2012) · cites this paper as [42]

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Authors
Kersting, A., Kroker, K., Steinhard, J., Lüdorff, K., Wesselmann, U., Ohrmann, P., Arolt, V., & Suslow, T.
Affiliations
University of Münster (DE)
Corresponding author
Kersting, Anette
ORCID
Venue
European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2007-07-14
Volume
257
Issue
8
Pages
437-443
ISSN
  • 0003-9373 (ISSN-L)
  • 0940-1334
  • 1433-8491
DOI
10.1007/s00406-007-0743-1
OpenAlex
W1502459656
Cited by
96
References
30
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 7 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 7 · 2014: 3 · 2013: 12 · 2012: 5
FWCI
5.07
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
Locations
  • European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Grief, Bereavement, and Mental Health
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychoanalysis and Psychopathology Research
Keywords
complicated grief, fetal malformations, chromosomal abnormalities, traumatic loss, post-traumatic stress, depression, anxiety, mental illness, maternal mental health, life events
MeSH terms
Activities of Daily Living, Adaptation, Psychological, Adult, Anxiety, Mental Disorders, Depression, Education, Female, Fetus, Follow-Up Studies, Grief, Humans, Predictive Value of Tests, Pregnancy, Psychiatric Status Rating Scales, Recreation, Sleep Wake Disorders, Social Behavior, Social Support, Socioeconomic Factors, Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic, Pregnancy Reduction, Multifetal

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