RELIABILITY AND VALIDITY OF THE PERINATAL GRIEF SCALE FOR WOMEN WHO EXPERIENCED LATE PREGNANCY LOSS

The psychometric qualities of the Perinatal Grief Scale (PGS) were eva luated in a sample of 46 Dutch women in late pregnancy (greater-than-o r-equal-to 24 weeks), who had been informed of the diagnosis 'lethal o r severe fetal malformation'. The validity was assessed by comparing i t to the Impact of Event Scale and to a clinical diagnosis of psycholo gical instability. The PGS appeared to be internally consistent and pa rticularly strongly related to psychological instability. It can there fore be considered as a valid assessment instrument, also for women wh o experience late pregnancy loss.