Correspondence (letter to the editor): Awareness Should Be Raised Among Doctors

In times of compulsive control, demand, and perfectionism in the realm of limitless possibilities, almost every pregnancy turns into a crisis with long latency periods until exhaustion and ambivalence are integrated or resolved. This pathway includes symptoms such as hyperemesis, premature labor, hypertension, dystocia of labor, breastfeeding and bonding problems, and sometimes depression. The latter does not have to be used as the umbrella term even if ambivalence always entails an element of depression.

Independently of these factors I share the following considerations regarding possible strategies: awareness needs to be improved in gynecologists and midwives in order for them to address ambivalences, identify these, and initiate the correct treatment. Networks to support parents with psychosocial burdens (for example, www.mutterkindgesundheit.de) are also suitable instruments. The high prevalence is acknowledged by the fact that gynecologists have to acquire a qualification in basic psychosomatic care. This should actually be included in the further training curriculum for every medical specialty. The German Society of Psychosomatic Obstetrics and Gynecology (DGPFG, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Psychosomatische Geburtshilfe und Gynäkologie) does not only provide curricula for psychosomatic basic care on a nationwide basis, but it also arranges specialty-specific psychotherapy and psychosomatic further professional education for midwives and psychologists.