Psychosocial aspects of invasive fetal therapy as compared to prenatal diagnosis and risk assessment.

Objective: To explore the psychosocial impact of invasive fetal therapy (FT).

Methods: We studied 100 consecutive patients scheduled for invasive FT. Contemporary controls were women undergoing (1) invasive prenatal diagnosis (AC/CVS) and (2) first trimester risk assessment of aneuploidy (NT), and (3) women who declined the latter (CTR). Prior to the procedure, participants completed the Beck Depression Inventory II, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, the Dyadic Adjustment Scale and a questionnaire specifically designed to evaluate the process preceding the intervention.

Results: Thirty-five percent of women in the FT group had mild to severe depressive symptoms, and 30% showed high levels of state anxiety. Mean state anxiety was significantly higher in women facing invasive as compared to non-invasive procedures. Trait anxiety levels and relationship scores were comparable across all groups. FT patients were more satisfied with the information and support given, whereas women in the NT group felt a greater degree of self-determination and contentedness with the choices they made.

Conclusion: Pregnant women awaiting invasive prenatal diagnosis and FT face higher levels of state anxiety than women undergoing non-invasive procedures. Traits of depression and high state anxiety are found in at least one third of women undergoing FT.