The Course of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder During and After Pregnancy

Maternal stress, trauma, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are associated with adverse outcomes during and after pregnancy. In a longitudinal study, researchers followed women with current or lifetime PTSD throughout pregnancy and the early postpartum period to explore the natural course of illness, risk factors for relapse or worsening, and the impact of PTSD symptoms on mother and child. A total of 319 primiparous women (mean age, 26; 34% white, 49% black; 51% married; 45% with some college education; 50% with annual household income ≤$25,000) with current or lifetime PTSD were interviewed at 28 and 35 weeks' gestation and 6 weeks postpartum. Four trajectories of PTSD symptoms were identified: low or high levels throughout pregnan…