Psychiatric morbidity following miscarriage in Hong Kong
Received 25 October 2008; accepted 2 December 2009. published online 22 February 2010.
Abstract
Objective
The aim of this study is to examine the pattern of psychiatric morbidity up to 3 months following miscarriage and to identify the risk factors of post-miscarriage depressive disorder among Chinese women in Hong Kong.
Method
This is a longitudinal cohort study. Women were interviewed immediately after miscarriage to collect psychiatric and sociodemographic data. Three months later, 161 subjects (89%) were assessed by a 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) and the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders (SCID) as screening and diagnostic instruments, respectively.
Results
Three months after miscarriage, 10% of subjects suffered depressive disorder, 1.2% were diagnosed with anxiety disorder not otherwise specified, and another two subjects each suffered obsessive compulsive disorder (0.6%) and posttraumatic stress disorder (0.6%), respectively. Risk factors of post-miscarriage depression included younger age, history of infertility and past history of depression.
Conclusions
Given the local annual figure of more than 7000 first-trimester miscarriages, about 900 local women suffer post-miscarriage psychiatric disorder each year. This finding may prompt general hospitals in Hong Kong to screen for post-miscarriage psychiatric disorders, particularly depression.
aDepartment of Psychiatry, United Christian Hospital, Hong Kong 852
bDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, United Christian Hospital, Hong Kong 852
ABSTRACT