Psychiatric morbidity in couples attending a fertility service

Abstract

The structured clinical interview for diagnosis (axis 1) according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders (DSM-III-R) was used to assess psychiatric morbidity in 110 infertile patients. They were divided into two groups according to whether referral to the service of psychosomatic medicine was deemed advisable by the physician in charge. Psychiatric disorders were diagnosed in 39 of 56 (69.6%) patients in the referred group and in 13 of 54 (24.1%) in the non-referred group. Psychiatric morbidity was found in 61.1% of females and 21% of males. Adjustment disorders were found in 59.6% (31/52) of all patients, in 59% (24/39) of patients among the referred group and in 61.5% (8/13) of patients among the non-referred group. Fourteen (67%) of 21 women in the referred group with adjustment disorders suffered from anxiety. In addition, 33.3% of patients in the non-referred group showed important psychological dysfunction, although DSM-III-R criteria were not met. Psychiatric morbidity was significantly associated with the number of treatment cycles and female gender in the whole study population, as well as with the type and length of infertility in the non-referred group. Psychological services in an infertility clinic help to identify at an early stage those individuals who are more likely to be vulnerable. This would enable psychological interventions to be targeted towards those in greater need.