Psychotherapeutische Versorgung von Frauen in Schwangerschaft und Postpartalzeit: Evaluation und Inanspruchnahme

Summary

Psychotherapeutic care of women in pregnancy and peripartum: Evaluation and treatment utilization

Objectives: Mothers suffering peripartal mental disorders need specialized, urgent care. However, treatment with fast access is still rare. A specialized consultation was evaluated, and the factors influencing treatment use were analyzed

Methods: 147 pregnant and postpartum women received a complex anamnesis during initial presentation; 6 months later they were queried about treatment use. Focus was set on sociodemographics, psychopathology, satisfaction, treatment use, and their influencing factors.

Results: Patients were mostly assigned by gynecologists, midwives, and psychotherapists; the patients expressed a high level of satisfaction with the consultation and with the short waiting periods. 78.4 % of the women took advantage of the recommended psychotherapy. Influencing factors were severe psychopathology and mental disorders in their personal history.

Discussion: The consultation would seem to provide a fast access for the purpose of diagnostic, psychoeducation, crisis intervention, and initiation of treatment. High satisfaction and high utilization of the recommended psychotherapy indicate the importance of the consultation, especially in cases of severe mental disorders.