Neuropsychiatric aid in children born to patients with rheumatic diseases

CER841
2010 Vol.28, N°5
PI 0767, PF 0773
Review

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PMID: 20822715 [PubMed]

Received: 19/01/2010
Accepted : 22/04/2010
In Press: 22/10/2010
Published: 22/10/2010

Abstract

A chronic disease may have an adverse impact on patients` quality of life and on their relationship styles. If this occurs in a mother, the related emotional and physical distress can interfere with baby holding, impacting on the antenatal maternal-foetal attachment and on the upbringing and development of the baby. Ineffective holding leads to the persistence of a condition of `vulnerability to stress` and the possible development of psychosomatic problems in the offspring. In this paper we present our experience and a review from the current literature on the psychological aspects of pregnancy and parenthood in women with rheumatic diseases (RD) and children`s development. To ameliorate family global quality of life, different experts (the rheumatologist, the obstetric, the neonatologist, the psychologist and the neuropsychiatric experts) should cooperate in teamwork to keep the patients` needs integrated. In particular, the neuropsychiatric intervention might support the patients and their partners throughout the experience of pregnancy and parenthood and prevent the occurrence of psychopathologic traits.