SIDS related anxiety - A risk factor analysis

Background: The growing public interest in the Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) has led to a new psychological problem - SIDS related anxiety (SRA) . General public awareness, unfavourable experience in the past, present pr oblems with the infant or insufficient support from the family may lead or contribute to SRA. Objective: The study was conducted to explore which of these factors contri bute most to the development of SRA. Patients and methods: Families visiting our outpatient clinic during 18 mon ths were interviewed by means of a structured questionnaire. We assessed de mographic data, obstetric history, experience of child loss, pregnancy and delivery complications, infant morbidity, family-child interaction, family support and the relation of each of these single factors to SRA. Results: Of 169 families, 58% (98/169) admitted to suffer from SRA and 21% (32/156) from severe SRA. We found a strong and significant relationship be tween previous experience of child loss and SRA (OR: 2.95, 95% CI: 1.43-6.0 9, P < 0.005) and between pregnancy complications and SRA (OR: 2.19, 95% CI : 1.18-4.08, P < 0.05). There were no significant relationships between SRA and either delivery complications, child morbidity, impaired family-child interaction or insufficient support from the family. Conclusions: SRA occurs On an unexpectedly large proportion of families vis iting a SIDS counseling clinic. SRA must be taken seriously, and psychologi cal or psychotherapeutic help should be offered. Prevention of SRA should i nclude psychological care for families who experience loss of children or h igh-risk pregnancies.