The effect of grief counseling on depression and post-traumatic stress disorder in women following perinatal deaths
Makaleler > Tam Makale · 2026
Yazarlar: Leila Nournorouzi, Sevil Hakimi, Khalil Esmaeilpour, Leila Abdoli Najmi, Roghaiyeh Nourizadeh
Discover Mental Health, Uluslararası, Scopus, 2026
DOI: 10.1007/s44192-026-00558-6
Özet
Fetal or neonatal death is a tragic event that frequently leads to the mother experiencing grief, as well as the development of depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The present study aimed to determine the impact of grief counseling on depression and PTSD in women following perinatal deaths. This experimental study was conducted on 56 women who had experienced perinatal deaths within the previous 1–3 months in Tabriz, Iran. Participants were randomly assigned to either the intervention or control group based on the type of perinatal loss (stillbirth or neonatal death). For the intervention group, grief counseling was provided individually in three sessions, one per week, lasting 45–60 min. Data collection tools included a demographic and obstetric questionnaire, the Edinburgh Depression Scale, and the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5). Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 24. ANCOVA was employed to compare depression and PTSD ratings pre- and post-intervention while adjusting for confounding variables. The two groups had no significant demographic differences ( p > 0.05). One month after the intervention, the mean depression score in the intervention group was significantly lower than in the control group (adjusted mean difference = − 2, 95% confidence interval: − 3.2 to − 0.8, p = 0.01). However, the mean PTSD score did not differ significantly between the two groups (adjusted mean difference = − 1.5, 95% confidence interval: − 7.5 to 4.4, p = 0.59). Grief counseling after fetal or neonatal loss led to a reduction in depression, but no significant effect on PTSD symptoms was observed with this intervention. It is recommended to use other counseling approaches and assess their effectiveness for PTSD following perinatal deaths.