Anxiety as an indication for referral for amniocentesis. Follow-up of the course of pregnancy
Andreasen, E.E.; Kristoffersen, K.
Ugeskrift for Laeger 151(21): 1308-1310
1989
ISSN/ISBN: 0041-5782 PMID: 2734918 Document Number: 346237
A prospective epidemiological investigation was undertaken concerning 2,276 pregnant women referred for amniocentesis during a period of seven years. After exclusion of all of the pregnant women over the age of 35 years and some subgroups, the material consisted of 799 pregnant women under the age of 35 years who were uneasy about the result of pregnancy. These were subdivided and assessed: group A = 329 women with indications for amniocentesis according to the circulars issued by the Danish Ministry of Health and group B = 470 healthy anxious women who desired amniocentesis but without indications. Following genetic counselling, 256 women (B1) still desired amniocentesis while 214 women (B2) now rejected amniocentesis. The courses of the pregnancies in groups A, B1 and B2 were followed-up and assessed. No significant differences were observed between the courses of the pregnancies in group B1 and B2. The tendency demonstrated by this investigation was that anxiety probably did not bear any relation to the outcome of the pregnancy.