Tokophobia: An unreasoning dread of childbirth

Hofberg, Kristina; Brockington, Ian

doi:10.1192/bjp.176.1.83

Cited by 230 publications

(176 citation statements)

References 4 publications

(4 reference statements)

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“…This finding indicates that multiparous women appraise their upcoming childbirth based on their previous birth experience(s) rather than their coping resources. The results support the study by Hofberg and Brockington (2000) that a previous negative birth experience increases subsequent fear of childbirth (secondary tokophobia) and re-traumatises multiparous women during a subsequent pregnancy (Hofberg and Brockington, 2000).…”

Section: Mechanisms Of Postnatal Traumatic Stress Symptomssupporting

confidence: 89%

Aetiological relationships between factors associated with postnatal traumatic symptoms among Japanese primiparas and multiparas: A longitudinal study

et al. 2017

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Etiology of postnatal trauma 2 Highlights We studied fear of childbirth (FOC) & traumatic stress due to childbirth in Japan  Higher antenatal FOC was associated with traumatic stress symptoms after childbirth  FOC in primiparas was associated with a history of mental illness and lower income  Lower satisfaction with a previous birth was associated with FOC in multiparas Etiology of postnatal trauma 4

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Section: Mechanisms Of Postnatal Traumatic Stress Symptomssupporting

confidence: 89%

Aetiological relationships between factors associated with postnatal traumatic symptoms among Japanese primiparas and multiparas: A longitudinal study

et al. 2017

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“…However, these qualitative studies did not assess PTSD using diagnostic criteria. Case studies, in which women do fulfil diagnostic criteria, suggest postnatal PTSD is associated with sexual avoidance (O'Driscoll, 1994) secondary fear of pregnancy and birth (tocophobia; Hofberg & Brockington, 2000), and disordered mother-infant attachment (Ballard, Stanley, & Brockington, 1995). It has been speculated that symptoms of avoidance may lead to the mother not bonding with the infant or, conversely, that hyperarousal and vigilance may lead to an over-anxious or protective attachment (Bailham & Joseph, 2003).…”

Section: The Effects Of Childbirth-related Post-traumatic Stress Disomentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Nicholls and Ayers (in press) report consistent effects of birth trauma on women's sexual function and a fear of childbirth. Fear of birth following a traumatic birth (termed secondary tokophobia) is discussed by Hofberg and Brockington (2000) in their synopsis of 26 cases of tokophobia. Similarly, a number of case studies have noted either rejecting behaviour or over-anxious behaviour of the mother towards the infant (Ballard et al, 1995;Moleman, van der Hart, & van der Kolk, 1992).…”

Section: Differences In Attachmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

The effects of childbirth-related post-traumatic stress disorder on women and their relationships: A qualitative study

Ayers

Eagle

Waring

2006

Psychology, Health & Medicine

281

226

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This is the unspecified version of the paper.This version of the publication may differ from the final published version. Permanent repository link: AbstractThere is converging evidence that 1 to 2% of women develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a result of childbirth. The current study aimed to explore the long-term effects of childbirth-related PTSD on women, their relationship with their partner, and their relationship with their child. Semi-structured interviews were carried out with six women who reported clinically significant PTSD after birth, ranging from 7 months to 18 years beforehand. Interviews were transcribed and analysed using thematic analysis. Childbirth-related PTSD was found to have wide ranging effects on women and their relationships. Women reported changes in physical wellbeing, mood and behaviour, social interaction, and fear of childbirth. Women reported negative effects on their relationship with their partner including sexual dysfunction, disagreements, and blame for events of birth. The mother-baby bond was also seriously affected.Nearly all women reported initial feelings of rejection towards the baby but this changed over time. Long-term, women seemed to have either avoidant or anxious attachments with their child.It is concluded that childbirth-related PTSD can have severe and lasting effects on women and their relationships with their partner and children. Further research is needed to compare this to normal difficulties experienced by women after having children. To date, most research has concentrated on the prevalence and causes of postnatal PTSD.Diathesis-stress approaches to mental health emphasise that whether a woman develops chronic postnatal PTSD will be influenced to varying degrees by pre-existing vulnerability and beliefs, the events of birth, and postnatal factors such as additional stress, support, and the meaning attached to the events of birth and symptoms of PTSD (Ayers, 2004;Beck, 2004a). Research supports this approach and suggests postnatal PTSD is associated with a previous history of trauma, history of psychological problems, and events during birth such as type of delivery (Ayers, 2004;Olde, van der Hart, Kleber, & Van Son, 2006). 4The effects of postnatal PTSD on women and their relationships with their child and partner have not been widely examined but have been subject to speculation (Bailham & Joseph, 2003). Case studies and qualitative research suggest it is likely that postnatal PTSD will affect women's close relationships. For example, in qualitative studies of postnatal PTSD, women report that it affects their sense of self, that they have less patience, feelings of anger, anxiety, depression, find it hard to sympathise with others, feel isolated from their infant, fear future pregnancy, and that it affects social relationships (Allen, 1998;Beck, 2004a). However, these qualitative studies did not assess PTSD using diagnostic criteria. Case studies, in which women do fulfil diagnostic criteria, suggest postnatal PTSD is associated with sex...

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“…A pregnant woman with blood-and injection phobia may as a consequence avoid attending the routine checkups at the antenatal care clinic (ANC), and may also avoid blood tests or other kinds of invasive examinations during pregnancy. There is also a possibility that the pregnant woman with this kind of phobia will express a fear of delivery and therefore require more analgesia and also an elective cesarean (Hofberg and Brockington 2000). There is a known co-morbidity between specific phobia and anxiety disorders especially posttraumatic stress disorder (Goisman and Allsworth 1998).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An open trial with cognitive behavioral therapy for blood- and injection phobia in pregnant women—a group intervention program

Lilliecreutz

Josefsson

Sydsjö

2009

Arch Womens Ment Health

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Methods: Thirty pregnant women with blood-and injection phobia according to DSM-IV took part in an open treatment intervention. A two-session cognitive behavior group therapy was conducted. As controls, 46 pregnant women with untreated blood-and injection phobia and 70 healthy pregnant women were used. Repeated measures ANOVA were performed. Results:The scores for the CBT treatment group on the "Injection Phobia Scale-Anxiety"were reduced both after each treatment session and postpartum (p<0.001). Anxiety and depressive symptoms were also reduced (p<0.001). Conclusion:Cognitive-behavior group therapy for pregnant women with blood-and injection phobia is effective and stable up to at least 3 months postpartum. It seems also to reduce anxiety and depressive symptoms during pregnancy.

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Tokophobia: An unreasoning dread of childbirth

Abstract: Tokophobia is a specific and harrowing condition that needs acknowledging. Close liaison between the obstetrician and the psychiatrist in order to assess the balance between surgical and psychiatric morbidity is imperative with tokophobia.

Cited by 230 publications

References 4 publications

Aetiological relationships between factors associated with postnatal traumatic symptoms among Japanese primiparas and multiparas: A longitudinal study

Aetiological relationships between factors associated with postnatal traumatic symptoms among Japanese primiparas and multiparas: A longitudinal study

The effects of childbirth-related post-traumatic stress disorder on women and their relationships: A qualitative study

An open trial with cognitive behavioral therapy for blood- and injection phobia in pregnant women—a group intervention program

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