The Birth Trauma Psychological Therapy Service: An audit of outcomes

Slade, Pauline ORCID: 0000-0001-5877-2706, Williamson, E, Brodrick, Alison, Saradjian, Adam and Pipeva, Anna (2021) The Birth Trauma Psychological Therapy Service: An audit of outcomes. Midwifery, 102. 103099-.

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Abstract

<h4>Objective</h4>To evaluate routinely collected service data from a 'Birth Trauma' psychology clinic integrated into maternity services, in order to review effectiveness for women with symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) following childbirth.<h4>Background</h4>Prevalence of PTSD after child-birth has been estimated to be around 3% for women meeting full diagnostic criteria and up to 9% for sub-threshold symptoms. This can occur even in response to deliveries considered to be medically straightforward. NICE guidelines (2018) recommend psychological therapy as a first line treatment for symptoms of PTSD.<h4>Methods</h4>The sample included 114 women referred post-natally for psychological assessment and intervention following a traumatic birth experience. Measures were routinely administered as part of initial assessment (T1) and at completion of intervention (T2). Data from these measures were collated and analyzed using a series of paired sample t tests. Following assessment 101 women were taken on for psychological intervention and of these, 74 completed both T1 and T2 measures.<h4>Results</h4>There were highly significant reductions across all measures of PTSD, anxiety and negative mood symptoms. The treatment effect sizes were very large. Mean total score on a measure of PTSD symptomatology was no longer clinically significant following interventions.<h4>Conclusion</h4>This evaluation suggests an integrated Birth Trauma psychology clinic using a small number of contact sessions is a highly efficient and effective model of care for women experiencing symptoms of PTSD following childbirth.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	PTSD, Birth trauma, Antenatal, Postnatal, Psychological, Depression, Anxiety
Divisions:	Faculty of Health and Life Sciences Faculty of Health and Life Sciences > Institute of Population Health
Depositing User:	Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited:	08 Jul 2021 08:25
Last Modified:	31 Jan 2023 16:34
DOI:	10.1016/j.midw.2021.103099
Related URLs:	Author Publisher
URI:	https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3129137