Posttraumatic stress disorder: In women, partners and caregivers

The main aim of this thesis was to gain more insight in the risk for developing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after experiencing or witnessing severe postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) both in patients and in partners. Furthermore, we aimed at acquiring insight in the mental health status of medical specialists.
After birth, 0.9 – 4.6% of women suffer from PTSD. Postpartum PTSD does not only affect the woman, but also her partner, child and work. Furthermore, partners might be at risk for developing PTSD too. In this thesis, we found that after severe PPH is a risk factor for developing PTSD in women. However, partners did not develop PTSD. Our main advice is to screen for PTSD at postpartum follow-up. But also, to develop research into the risk for developing PTSD in partners after delivery.
Diminished mental health in medical specialists leads to more medical mistakes and worse patient outcomes. In several medical specialties (gynecology, pediatrics, orthopedic surgery) we evaluated the mental health (depression, anxiety and probable PTSD) of the medical specialists. We found that point prevalences of depressive and anxiety symptoms were higher in these specialties than in the general population with a high income. Probable PTSD was more prevalent in pediatricians and gynecologists, but not in orthopedic surgeons. We also found that the absence of a support protocol was associated with more probable PTSD in specialist. Therefore we advise to install support protocols, but also to increase awareness of the diminished mental health amongst medical specialists.