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Completed

NCT Number: NCT04160273

Evaluation of Postpartum Posttraumatic Stress Disorder at Angers University Hospital (ESPT-PP)

The purpose of this study is to estimate the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) at one month in women who have given birth at the University Hospital of Angers over a period of 1 year.

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Key information

Conditions

Delivery Mental Disorders Post Partum Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders, Traumatic Trauma and Stressor Related Disorders

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

Female

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

UH Angers

Angers, 49933, France

About this study

Childbirth is a natural process expected, prepared and imagined by all future parents.

A traumatic experience of childbirth and its consequences is a major problem that is often underestimated for women's health. Some women may develop Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) after delivery. The literature reports a prevalence of PTSD in relation to childbirth of 1.3 to 6%.

Symptoms of post-traumatic stress can be triggered by any event, perceived as threatening to the life or physical integrity of the person or a third party and causing intense fear, helplessness and horror.

It may be thought that childbirth, by its psychological and physiological characteristics, can be described as an extreme experience and its experience depends on multiple factors. Thus, an innocent childbirth for caregivers can be traumatically experienced by the woman.

The symptoms described are symptoms of avoidance (inability to return to the scene of trauma, denial of trauma), symptoms of intrusion (nightmares, reviviscences) and symptoms of neuro-vegetative hyper activation (sleep disorders, anger, emotional indifference ).

The development of PTSD following childbirth is a known phenomenon, but minimized and very little diagnosed by obstetric teams.

Therefore, it seems interesting to assess the prevalence of PTSD during childbirth in order to optimize our management, that is to identify patients at risk of PTSD and offer them adapted psychological follow-up.

This study also aims to describe the kinetics of the development of post-traumatic postpartum symptoms and to study the risk factors for the development of PTSD.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Major and francophone patient,
  • Giving birth (≥ 37 weeks of amenorrhea) to the maternity hospital of Angers University Hospital,
  • Agree to participate in the study (signature of consent).

Exclusion criteria

  • Birth of a child born lifeless,
  • Patient deprived of liberty by judicial or administrative decision,
  • Patient subject to a legal protection measure,
  • Patient unable to express her consent.

Treatment and study plan

patient questionnaire and telephone follow-up

Diagnostic Test

PDI scale is filled in before returning home and follow-up at one month and one year thanks to a telephone call during which the patient answers the PCL-S questionnaire

Primary outcomes

  1. The risk of PTSD at 1 month is detected using the PCL-S scale.

    Time frame: 1 Month

    The risk of PTSD at 1 month is detected using the PCL-S scale. Patients are considered at high risk if they have a score ≥ 26 on this scale. A consultation with a psychiatrist is offered to these patients at risk of PTSD in order to make the diagnosis and offer them appropriate care if necessary.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Determine the emotional distress of a person at the time of a traumatic event at 1 month and one year

    Time frame: 1 month and 1year

    Using the immediate postpartum PDI scale at 1 month and one year

  2. Detect a state of post-traumatic stress

    Time frame: 1 Month and 1 year

    Using the PCL-S scale at 1 month and 1 year

  3. Collect the risk factors associated with PTSD

    Time frame: 5 Days

    The risk factors studied are as follows: socio-economic status, gestational-parity, obstetrical history, psycho-pathological antecedents, addictions , current pregnancy course, term childbirth, mode of delivery and its complications, course of the hospitalization

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University Hospital, Angers

Other Gov

Registry information

Acronym: ESPT-PP

Important dates

Study start
2021
Primary completion
2024
Study completion
2025
First posted
Nov 12, 2019
Registry last updated
Jul 25, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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