Emotional burden of miscarriage

Early pregnancy loss represents a significant emotional burden for women, and to some extent for men, especially with regards to anxiety. For many, the detrimental effects of miscarriage are enduring and display a complex course of resolution. Its been seen that many women and theirs partners continue to feel anxiety for more than a year after a miscarriage. As compared to depression, anxiety can prove to be more of a clinical burden in people who experience miscarriage. To assess the long-term emotional impact of miscarriage on couples, researchers at Dr. Gray's Hospital, Elgin, United Kingdom studied symptoms of depression and anxiety in 273 women and 133 men within one month after the women experienced a miscarriage, and again 6 and 13 months later. These subjects were initially assessed by a semi-structured interview and a standardised self-report questionnaire. The latter was re-administered at the follow-up assessments. The results showed that the main psychological burden in couples after a miscarriage was anxiety. Of the 273 women and 133 men who completed all assessments, just over 10 percent of the women and 4 percent of the men showed depression within the first month following miscarriage. After 13 months, depression could be identified in about 2 percent of the women and the men. Within the first month after miscarriage, over 24 percent of the women and over 5 percent of the men showed anxiety. At the final assessment, anxiety was still evident in nearly 16 percent of the women and over 4 percent of the men. Thus, it is important for doctors to address the possibility of a negative psychological aftermath of a miscarriage and its potential negative effects on relationships, mental health, work and future pregnancy.