Abstract
Childbirth for some women can be experienced as a traumatic event whereby it is appraised as threatening to life and associated
with feelings of fear, helplessness or horror. These women may develop symptoms consistent with post-traumatic stress disorder
or its sub-clinical symptoms (post-traumatic stress, PTS). Cognitive processes such as attentional biases have been identified
in individuals with PTS exposed to other traumatic events. This study used an experimental design (the modified Stroop task)
to investigate the relationship between attentional biases and PTS symptoms in 50 women who experienced their labour and delivery
as stressful and responded with fear, helplessness and horror. Attentional biases away from childbirth words were significantly
associated with both symptoms of post-traumatic stress and more negative experiences of childbirth. A negative experience
was also associated with more severe symptoms of PTS. Positive experiences were unassociated with attentional biases or symptoms.
Post-traumatic stress responses, in this population, may be associated with avoidance, and through influencing cognitive processing,
acting as a maintaining factor of distress.
with feelings of fear, helplessness or horror. These women may develop symptoms consistent with post-traumatic stress disorder
or its sub-clinical symptoms (post-traumatic stress, PTS). Cognitive processes such as attentional biases have been identified
in individuals with PTS exposed to other traumatic events. This study used an experimental design (the modified Stroop task)
to investigate the relationship between attentional biases and PTS symptoms in 50 women who experienced their labour and delivery
as stressful and responded with fear, helplessness and horror. Attentional biases away from childbirth words were significantly
associated with both symptoms of post-traumatic stress and more negative experiences of childbirth. A negative experience
was also associated with more severe symptoms of PTS. Positive experiences were unassociated with attentional biases or symptoms.
Post-traumatic stress responses, in this population, may be associated with avoidance, and through influencing cognitive processing,
acting as a maintaining factor of distress.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Article
- Pages 1-8
- DOI 10.1007/s00737-012-0290-2
- Authors
- Vanessa Dale-Hewitt, Clinical Psychology Unit, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TP UK
- Pauline Slade, Clinical Psychology Unit, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TP UK
- Ingram Wright, Neurology Unit, Neuropsychology Department, North Bristol NHS Trust, Room 4, Frenchley Park Road, Bristol, BS16 1LE UK
- Michelle Cree, The Beeches, Mother and Baby Unit, Psychiatric Unit, Derby City Hospital, Uttoxeter New Road, Derby, DE22 3NE UK
- Chris Tully, Central/Greater Derby PCT’s NHS, Derwent Court, 1, Stuart Street, Derby, DE1 1FS UK
- Journal Archives of Women’s Mental Health
- Online ISSN 1435-1102
- Print ISSN 1434-1816