Effectiveness of psycho-educational counseling on anxiety in preeclampsia

Abstract Introduction Preeclampsia is a serious complication during pregnancy that not only influences maternal and fetal physical health, but also has maternal mental health outcomes such as anxiety. Prenatal anxiety has negative short- and long-term effects on pre- and postpartum maternal mental health, delivery, and mental health in subsequent pregnancies. Objective To investigate the effectiveness of individual psycho-educational counseling on anxiety in pregnant women with preeclampsia. Methods This was a randomized, intervention-controlled study involving two governmental hospitals in the municipality of Sirjan, Kerman, from January 30 2017 to March 31 2017. A total of 44 pregnant women with preeclampsia were assessed. The women were randomized into two groups: control (n=22) and intervention (n=22). The intervention consisted of two sessions of individual psycho-educational counseling. The level of anxiety was measured using the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) as pretest before the first session and as posttest after the second session during the hospitalization period. Results There was a significant reduction in the anxiety level after the counselling sessions in the intervention group (p