Psychological Health Associated With Prenatal Screening in Low-Risk Pregnancy for Chromosomal Aneuploidy Publisher Pubmed



Dadkhah A¹ ; Kazemi A² ; Torabi F³
Source: Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Research Published:2022

Abstract

Aims: The aim of this study was to assess the psychological health associated with prenatal screening in low-risk pregnancy for chromosomal aneuploidy. Methods: This longitudinal study was performed on 310 low-risk pregnancies for chromosomal aneuploidies. Using the standard DASS-21 questionnaire, levels of stress, anxiety, and depression were assessed—prior to the recommended time for the first-trimester screening test (T1), after the first-trimester tests on the second referral (T2) concurrently with the request for the second-trimester tests (T3)—and compared between women undergoing the prenatal screening and in women refusing it. Results: The results showed that the mean of stress, anxiety, and depression levels were not different between groups at T1; but the level of the stress, depression, and anxiety were higher in the screening group than the non-screening group. The effect of group on changes in the stress, depression, and anxiety levels was significant. Conclusion: The results revealed that the prenatal screening program in low-risk pregnancies for chromosomal aneuploidy can be followed by rising psychological symptoms and this psychological burden should be conceded on prenatal screening tests for pregnant women. © 2022 Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology.