Cross-sectional study to assess the psychological morbidity of women facing possible miscarriage

Abstract

Introduction: Threatened miscarriage is a common complication of pregnancy. This study aimed to assess psychological morbidity in women with threatened miscarriage, with the goal of identifying early interventions for women at risk of anxiety or depression. Methods: Women in their first trimester attending an Early Pregnancy Assessment Clinic were recruited between July 2013 and June 2015. They were asked to complete the 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Spielberger’s State Anxiety Inventory State form (STAI-S), the Fatigue Scale–14 (FS-14), and the Profile of Mood States (POMS) before consultation. They were also asked to rate anxiety levels before and after consultation using a visual analogue scale (VAS). Results: In total, 1390 women completed the study. The mean ± standard deviation of GHQ-12 (bi-modal) and GHQ-12 (Likert) scores were 4.04 ± 3.17 and 15.19 ± 5.30, respectively. Among these women, 48.4% had a GHQ-12 (bi-modal) score ≥4 and 76.7% had a GHQ-12 (Likert) score >12, indicating distress. The mean ± standard deviation of BDI, STAI-S, and FS-14 scores were 9.35 ± 7.19, 53.81 ± 10.95, and 2.40 ± 0.51, respectively. The VAS score significantly decreased after consultation (P<0.001). Compared with women without a history of miscarriage, women with a previous miscarriage had higher GHQ-12, BDI, and POMS scores (except for fatigue-inertia and vigour-activity subscales). A higher bleeding score was strongly positively correlated with GHQ-12 (Likert) score. There were weak correlations between pain score and the GHQ-12 (bi-modal) ≥4, BDI >12, and POMS scores (except for confusion-bewilderment subscale which showed a strong positive correlation). Conclusion: Women with threatened miscarriage experience a considerable psychological burden, emphasising the importance of early recognition for timely management.