Incidence, correlates and predictors of post-traumatic stress disorder in the pregnancy after stillbirth
Open accessAbstract
Background: Many women may suffer psychological symptoms after stillbirth and in the subsequent pregnancy. Stillbirth has not been demonstrated previously to be a stressor for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Aims: To assess incidence, correlates and predictors of PTSD during and after the pregnancy following stillbirth. Method: A cohort study of pregnant women whose previous pregnancy ended in stillbirth. Results: PTSD symptoms were prevalent in the pregnancy following stillbirth. Case-level PTSD was associated with depression, state-anxiety and conception occurring closer to loss. Symptomsgenerally resolved naturally by 1 year postpartum (birth of healthy baby). Conclusions: Women are vulnerabe to PTSD in the pregnancy subsequent to stillbirth, particularly when conception occurs soon after the loss.
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Stillbirth is one of the most devastating losses a parent can experience.
“Stillbirth is one of the most devastating losses a parent can experience”
From Silent loss and the clinical encounter: Parents’ and physicians’ experiences of stillbirth–a qualitative analysis (2012) · cites this paper as [6]
In “Perception of stressor” (page not available), the authors describe stillbirth as a traumatic stressor, and 59 women identified it as their sole or main stressor. This supports describing stillbirth as deeply distressing, but the paper does not compare it with other losses or establish the claim for parents generally; its study concerns women pregnant after stillbirth. (LLM, conf=0.82)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredStillbirth is a high-risk indicator for post-traumatic stress and depression in mothers and in couples.
“it is a high-risk indicator for post-traumatic stress and depression in mothers and in couples [5-9]”
From Silent loss and the clinical encounter: Parents’ and physicians’ experiences of stillbirth–a qualitative analysis (2012) · cites this paper as [6]
The Abstract and Clinical Implications report substantial PTSD symptoms among women in the pregnancy after stillbirth. The Comorbidity section associates their PTSD with heightened depressive symptoms. The study does not establish the claimed risk for couples, and its depression finding is an association rather than a demonstrated increase in depression risk after stillbirth. (LLM, conf=0.88)
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References 21 · Cited by 254
- Authors
- Turton, P., Hughes, P., Evans, C. D. H., & Fainman, D.
- Affiliations
- St George's, University of London (GB)
- The Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust (GB)
- Stellenbosch University (ZA)
- Corresponding author
- Turton, P.
- ORCID
- Evans, C. D. H.
- Venue
- British Journal of Psychiatry
- Publisher
- Royal College of Psychiatrists
- Published
- 2001-06
- Volume
- 178
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 556-560
- ISSN
- 0007-1250 (ISSN-L)
- 1472-1465
- OpenAlex
- W2010456427
- Cited by
- 254
- References
- 21
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 18 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 11 · 2018: 9 · 2017: 13 · 2016: 10 · 2015: 23 · 2014: 13 · 2013: 11 · 2012: 12
- FWCI
- 8.53
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- The British Journal of Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Tommy's
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Grief, Bereavement, and Mental Health
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Research
- Keywords
- post-traumatic stress disorder, stillbirth, subsequent pregnancy, depression, state anxiety, conception timing, postpartum recovery, maternal mental health, risk factors
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Anxiety, Bereavement, Depression, Female, Fetal Death, Humans, Middle Aged, Pregnancy, Pregnancy Complications, Psychiatric Status Rating Scales, Risk Factors, Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic, Time Factors, Cohort Studies
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