Stallman, Helen M., McDermott, Brett M., Beckman, Michael M., Wilson, M. Kay, and Adam, Kareen (2010) Women who miscarry: the effectiveness and clinical utility of the Kessler 10 questionnaire in screening for ongoing psychological distress. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 50 (1). pp. 70-76.

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Abstract

Background: Early pregnancy loss has been linked to enduring psychological morbidity.

Aims: This study aimed to investigate the utility of the Kessler 10 (K10) questionnaire as a brief screening instrument to identify women at risk for the development of psychiatric diagnoses three months post-miscarriage.

Method: Participants were 117 consecutive women presenting at a public hospital emergency department and receiving a diagnosis of miscarriage.

Main Outcome Measures: K10 screen for psychological distress and the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM Disorders to determine psychiatric diagnoses.

Results: A majority of women (81.2%) experienced elevated levels of distress initially, 24.8% in the very high range. They were not at increased risk of psychiatric diagnoses at three months compared with the general population; however, they were significantly more likely to report subsyndromal symptoms at this time compared with the general population. The baseline K10 score was the only significant predictor of distress at follow-up (r = 0.45, P < 0.001). The receiver operating characteristic curve shows that a cut-off of 14 on the K10 has suitable sensitivity (97%) and specificity (82%) for predicting ongoing psychological distress in women who miscarry.

Conclusions: The K10 is effective in identifying women at risk for ensuring psychological symptoms following miscarriage.

Item ID:	44566
Item Type:	Article (Research - C1)
ISSN:	1479-828X
Keywords:	early pregnancy loss, mental health, miscarriage, psychological distress, screening
Funders:	Mater Mothers' Research Grant
Date Deposited:	20 Jul 2016 04:00
FoR Codes:	11 MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES > 1114 Paediatrics and Reproductive Medicine > 111402 Obstetrics and Gynaecology @ 50% 11 MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES > 1199 Other Medical and Health Sciences > 119999 Medical and Health Sciences not elsewhere classified @ 50%
SEO Codes:	92 HEALTH > 9201 Clinical Health (Organs, Diseases and Abnormal Conditions) > 920111 Nervous System and Disorders @ 100%
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