The British journal of clinical psychology / the British Psychological Society
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To investigate whether levels of perfectionism, organization, and intolerance of uncertainty predispose women to more negative birth experiences and post-partum post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS). Birth experience was also examined as a potential moderator of the relationship between levels of the personality traits and post-natal PTSS. ⋯ Women who expect themselves to be more perfect or who find it more difficult to cope with uncertainty had more negative experiences of childbirth. Women with higher levels of perfectionism were more likely to experience more symptoms of post-traumatic stress during the early post-natal period. Being more perfectionistic continued to have a more negative effect on women's well-being after birth, regardless of whether they had a positive or negative experience of birth. Integrating these findings into antenatal discussion around birth preferences would increase women's awareness of predisposing and obstetric risk factors that partially explain experiences of unsatisfactory births and post-partum post-traumatic stress.
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The aim of the current study was to assess the feasibility, safety, and effectiveness of a newly developed Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) intervention developed specifically to address the unique context of pregnancy and parenthood. The intervention was delivered to women accessing a specialist Perinatal Community Mental Health Service (PCMHS). ⋯ Group-delivered Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is acceptable for women with moderate-to-severe perinatal mood and/or anxiety disorders and can be feasibly delivered in a routine practice setting. The trans-diagnostic nature of ACT enables the concurrent treatment of depressive and anxiety symptoms within the same intervention which is particularly helpful in the perinatal context given the comorbidity of mood and anxiety disorders. With training and supervision, mental health practitioners without extensive education in the delivery of psychological therapies can facilitate the ACT group programme. As this was a feasibility study, there was no control group, adherence to the manual was not assessed, and the absence of a follow-up period limits our knowledge of the longer-term benefits of the ACT group programme.