Skip to the main content

Psychiatria Danubina, Vol. 27 No. suppl 1, 2015.

Conference paper

EVALUATION OF A SPECIALISED COUNSELLING SERVICE FOR PERINATAL BEREAVEMENT

Jonathan Rogers orcid id orcid.org/0000-0002-4671-5410 ; Broomfield Hospital, Chelmsford, UK
Molly Spink ; Clare College, Cambridge, UK
Abi Magrill ; Clare College, Cambridge, UK
Karen Burgess ; Petals Charity, Cambridge, UK
Mark Agius ; Clare College, Cambridge, UK,; Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, UK

Full text: english pdf 448 Kb

page 482-485

downloads: 167

cite

Abstract

Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the outcomes of Petals: a charitable organisation in Cambridgeshire. Petals provides
counselling for women and couples who have suffered perinatal bereavement, or trauma during pregnancy or birth. This paper
attempts to evaluate the effect of counseling interventions at this difficult time.
Methods: Outcomes were recorded in 107 patients using the CORE (Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation) system. CORE
was developed to assess the effectiveness of psychological therapies. CORE-OM (CORE Outcome Measure) involves a questionnaire
that assesses subjective well-being, symptoms/problems, function, and risk to self and others. The CORE-OM questionnaire was
completed before and after the counselling sessions.
Results: The CORE-OM scores were summated into a global representation of severity. Severity decreased in all patients.
Symptoms of psychological pathology were also decreased in all cases.
Conclusion: Offering a free specialised counselling for parents suffering perinatal loss seems to be associated with an
improvement in psychological outcomes. It is possible that it is more effective among a clinical population. However, we are
uncertain of the natural history of the psychological problems this group of clients are experiencing. Having a control group would
show how much of any natural improvement is due to the therapy; conversely, it is possible that without intervention these problems
worsen with time, so a control group could actually amplify the effect.

Keywords

perinatal bereavement; trauma in pregnancy; counselling

Hrčak ID:

264600

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/264600

Publication date:

8.9.2015.

Visits: 430 *