A Diagnostic Questionnaire for Childbirth Related Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Validation Study

( Am J Obstet Gynecol . 2024;231(1):134.e1-13. doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2023.11.1229) Childbirth, a demanding event both physically and psychologically, frequently involves unforeseen complications, with almost half of U.S. pregnancies encountering these issues. A third of women indicate having traumatic childbirth experiences, while 1.8% face severe maternal morbidity (SMM), including heart complications or sepsis, which have serious health consequences. Such experiences may result in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a condition arising from encounters with life-threatening or harmful situations, such as childbirth. Defined by symptoms such as intrusive thoughts, avoidance behaviors, mood disturbances, and increased arousal, PTSD is associated with functional deficits and changes in neural activity.