TTTS Study: Mothers Show Symptoms of Depression

New study published in the Archives of Women’s Mental Health* explores the mental health of women who’ve had a Twin to Twin Transfusion Syndrome (TTTS) diagnosis. The researchers retrospectively surveyed 350 women. All women was diagnosed with TTTS during pregnancy. They were interviewed about their experiences prior to, during, and after pregnancy. The goal was to examine symptoms of anxiety and depression, mental health diagnosis, thoughts of seeking mental healthcare, help received, and preferred mental health services.

* Archives of Women’s Mental Health is the official journal of the Marce Society and the North American Society for Psychosocial Obstetrics and Gynecology (NASPOG).

Elevated symptoms regardless of outcome

The women experienced significantly elevated symptoms of depression and anxiety during and after pregnancy, regardless of the outcome of their pregnancy. Some women had double survivors, other single survivors, or double loss. The women reported feeling devastated by their experiences and indicated they would have accepted mental health care had it been offered and had barriers to care been addressed.
The researchers recommend that prospective studies of women with TTTS pregnancies are done. They are needed to learn more about TTTS effects on mental health and to determine how to best address emotional care needs of the mothers.