PREVENTION OF PRETERM BIRTH - THE BENEFIT OF PSYCHOTHERAPEUTIC SUPPORT

The establishment of the mother-baby relationship is often disturbed i n case of preterm birth. Clinical observations and epidemiological stu dies have highlighted the existence of a relationship between psycholo gical factors and preterm birth. Therefore, a psychological support ma y have a beneficial effect in order to prevent preterm delivery. The a im of this study was to assess the effectiveness of psychological supp ort in pregnant women with symptoms of preterm labor, which is conside red as a somatic expression of psychological difficulty related to pre gnancy. The study, which involved two cohorts of women, hospitalized o r not, identified during two successive periods in the same maternity ward, included 309 women in the experimental group and 323 in the cont rol group. The women in the control group were followed up according t o the usual therapeutic procedures, whereas additional psychological s upport was offered to the experimental group. 92 % of the women who me t the psychologist accepted the psychological support. The analysis, c onducted ''in intent to treat'', showed a significant decrease in the preterm birth rate in the experimental group (12 %) compared with the control group (26 %). This study confirms the feasibility of this kind of intervention and the effectiveness of psychological support on the risk of preterm delivery. The interviews help the women regain confid ence in their own capacity to fulfil their pregnancy.