Post-traumatic stress disorder in the perinatal period: A concept analysis.
Julie Vignato, Jane M Georges, Ruth A Bush and 1 others
PMID 28295746WHAT IT FOUND
Perinatal PTSD is distinct from postpartum depression and can arise from trauma before conception or during birth.
Nurses should screen for prior abuse and birth-related distress to prevent poor bonding and infant outcomes, rather than assuming symptoms appear only after delivery.
Key findings
01Perinatal PTSD is a distinct disorder from postpartum depression, with antecedents that include trauma prior to conception, not just traumatic birth.
02Untreated perinatal PTSD leads to adverse maternal-infant outcomes such as impaired bonding, prematurity, and low birth weight.
03Nurses should actively assess women's feelings and stress reactions to procedures during pregnancy and childbirth to enable early identification.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
This is a theoretical concept analysis, not a study of patient outcomes or interventions. It does not provide evidence for the efficacy of any specific treatment. The literature reviewed is limited in diversity and often conflates PPTSD with postpartum depression. Most cited studies are correlational or cross-sectional, lacking longitudinal data on the development of PPTSD across the full perinatal period.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret this concept analysis as evidence that screening or nursing interventions reduce PPTSD or improve outcomes. The paper defines the concept and suggests areas for future research, but it does not test any clinical strategies.