Psychological outcome in women undergoing termination of pregnancy for ultrasound-detected fetal anomaly in the first and second trimesters: a pilot study

Abstract

Objective: To ascertain and compare psychological morbidity following first- and second-trimester termination for fetal anomaly.

Methods: This was a cohort study of 30 women aged 20-40 years in a north London teaching hospital, 14 of whom had had a first-trimester termination and 16 a second-trimester termination for fetal anomaly. The main outcome measures were questionnaire data (General Health Questionnaire-28, Beck Depression Inventory, Perinatal Grief Scale, Impact of Event Scale (IES)) at 6 weeks, 6 months and 12 months after termination.

Results: There were high levels of psychological distress in both groups at each time point, and for the combined group the mean total scores on the IES remained above the cut-off for the entire study period. Those having second-trimester terminations had a significantly higher level of post-traumatic stress symptomatology 6 weeks after termination (14/16 vs. 6/14; odds ratio = 9.3; 95% CI, 1.5-57.7).

Conclusions: Psychological morbidity following termination of pregnancy for fetal anomaly is prevalent and persistent. Our data suggest that in the short term (as assessed at a 6-week follow-up), second-trimester termination may be more stressful compared with first-trimester termination.