Overview
Adjustment disorder is a psychological response to an identifiable stressor, characterized by emotional or behavioral symptoms that cause significant distress or impairment. During pregnancy, this can manifest as difficulties with parental role adaptation and psychological adjustment.Diagnosis
Symptoms include emotional or behavioral symptoms in response to an identifiable stressor occurring within three months of its onset 1.
Symptoms cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.
The symptoms do not meet criteria for another mental disorder and are not merely an exacerbation of a pre-existing disorder.
The symptoms do not represent normal bereavement.
Once the stressor or its consequences have terminated, the symptoms do not persist for more than an additional six months.Management
Psychoeducation interventions have shown consistent favorable effects on prenatal attachment, which facilitates parental role adaptation and psychological adjustment during pregnancy 1.
Nine out of eleven studies showed statistically significant effects on maternal-fetal attachment with psychoeducation 1.
Three out of four studies reported significant effects favoring paternal-fetal attachment with psychoeducation 1.Special Populations
Pregnancy: Psychoeducation interventions can positively impact prenatal attachment, facilitating parental role adaptation and psychological adjustment during pregnancy 1. These interventions have shown significant effects on both maternal-fetal and paternal-fetal attachment 1.Key Recommendations
Psychoeducation interventions are recommended for pregnant women and their partners to improve prenatal attachment and facilitate psychological adjustment during pregnancy 1. (Evidence: Moderate)
Psychoeducation interventions have demonstrated statistically significant positive effects on maternal-fetal attachment 1. (Evidence: Moderate)
Psychoeducation interventions have shown significant positive effects on paternal-fetal attachment 1. (Evidence: Moderate)References
1 Yuen WS, Lo HC, Wong WN, Ngai FW. The effectiveness of psychoeducation interventions on prenatal attachment: A systematic review. Midwifery 2022. link