Therapeutic termination of pregnancy and major psychiatric outcomes in parents.

OBJECTIVES

Therapeutic termination of pregnancy (TToP) may have psychiatric outcomes like depression, anxiety and post-traumatic-stress disorder (PTSD).

MATERIAL AND

METHODS

45 couples had psychiatric evaluation before TToP and after one-year period.

RESULTS

TToP is linked to acute development of depressive symptoms that recover with time and professional support. Twelve percent of women developed PTSD (but 29.5% refused one-year evaluation due to mental distress at recalling TToP). Fathers showed no psychiatric outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

Acute depressive symptoms after TToP improve with professional support but PTSD rate is concerning and stress importance of mental health implications and need for adequate related treatments.