Identifying carriers at high risk for negative reactions when performing prenatal diagnosis of haemophilia

• The aim of the current study was to determine which pregnant carriers of haemophilia are at particularly high risk for having notably negative psychological reactions in association with prenatal diagnosis (PND) by fetal blood sampling of offspring haemophilia. Among 29 carriers of haemophilia A or B, notable psychiatric or psychosomatic symptoms in association with PND were significantly related to the woman's having a negative view of herself in general and of being a gene carrier, a planned pregnancy, high education, a good general knowledge of haemophilia and a guiding philosophy of life. Women with strong negative reactions significantly more often reported signs of depressive mood at follow-up. The results suggest that giving more information and promoting increased knowledge about the disease and the PND procedure will, by itself, not help women to cope better emotionally. Provision of prospective psychosocial support is recommended.

Nyckelord

article

clinical article

depression

disease carrier

fetus

fetus blood

hemophilia A

hemophilia B

human

mood

prenatal diagnosis

priority journal

Publikations- och innehållstyp

art (ämneskategori)

ref (ämneskategori)