OBSESSIONAL SYMPTOMS IN EXPECTANT WOMEN AND OUTCOME OF THEIR PREGNANCY

The aim of this investigation was to explore whether, within the scope of personality traits and their modifications during pregnancy, the o bsessional dimension may have a protective role against premature birt h. In fact, obsessional characterology with its tendency to control ma y suggest that the women with these traits do not passively experience their pregnancy and may try to central its evolution, at least in the ir fantasies. Personality dimensions have been recorded using Derogati s' psychological self-administered questionnaire, in which women were asked to assess their level on the Derogatis symptom scale before and during pregnancy. The survey involved 351 women (117 premature and 234 term deliveries) who had both completed the self-administered questio nnaire on the 6-month pregnancy visit and answered a specific intervie w at birth. Our results have shown that the existence of obsessional t raits before pregnancy apparently doer not have a protective role agai nst premature delivery (odds ratio = 1.40; NS). Conversely, intensifie d obsessional symptoms during pregnancy are associated with a decrease d premature birth rate (odds ratio = 0.44; p < 0.05). There results re main when the presence of obsessional traits before pregnancy is taken into account (adjusted odds ratio = 0.38;p < 0.02). The possibility o f a defence reaction to this situation of pregnancy is discussed.