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Prevalence and prediction of re‐experiencing and avoidance after elective surgical abortion: a prospective study
Author(s) -
van Emmerik Arnold A. P.,
Kamphuis Jan H.,
Emmelkamp Paul M. G.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
clinical psychology and psychotherapy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.315
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1099-0879
pISSN - 1063-3995
DOI - 10.1002/cpp.586
Subject(s) - psychology , abortion , feeling , prospective cohort study , observational study , psychiatry , clinical psychology , pregnancy , medicine , surgery , social psychology , genetics , pathology , biology
Objective: This study investigated short‐term re‐experiencing and avoidance after elective surgical abortion. In addition, it was prospectively investigated whether peritraumatic dissociation and pre‐abortion dissociative tendencies and alexithymia predict re‐experiencing and avoidance. Method: In a prospective observational design, Dutch‐speaking women presenting for first trimester elective surgical abortion completed self‐report measures for dissociative tendency and alexithymia. Peritraumatic dissociation was measured immediately post‐abortion. Re‐experiencing and avoidance were measured 2 months post‐abortion. Results: Participants reported moderately elevated levels of re‐experiencing and avoidance that exceeded a clinical cut‐off point for 19.4% of the participants. Peritraumatic dissociation predicted intrusion and avoidance at 2 months. In addition, avoidance was predicted by the alexithymic aspect of difficulty describing feelings. Conclusions: Re‐experiencing and avoidance after elective surgical abortion represent a significant clinical problem that is predicted by peritraumatic dissociation and alexithymia. Psychological screening and intervention might be a useful adjunct to elective abortion procedures. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.