The impact of molar pregnancy on the male partner Psycho-Oncology, 05/07/2012

Quinlivan JA et al. – There are high persisting levels of anxiety in male partners of women with molar pregnancy. Partners may benefit from therapy where anxiety disorders are detected.

• Institutional ethics committee approval and individual consent were obtained.
• All women listed on the state molar pregnancy database who were receiving active follow-up (n=102) and a random sample of women who had been registered in the previous 30years (n=56) were sent a postal survey outlining the purpose of the study and an invitation for their partner to participate.
• Sixty-six women gave permission for their partner to participate in the study.
• Questionnaires included the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Satisfaction with Life Scale and Sexual History Form 12.
• Responding partners were also invited to make comments about any aspect of particular concern.

• The response rate was 62% (N=41).
• The key findings were that 32.5% and 12.5% of men met the case criteria for anxiety and depressive disorder, respectively.
• These figures represent a doubling of usual community rates for anxiety disorder.
• However, overall quality of life and sexual functioning outcomes were consistent with community samples.
• The presence of children played a protective role and was associated with significantly better psychological function and quality of life in univariate and multivariate analysis.
• Qualitative results complemented the quantitative data, with anxiety as the dominant emotional theme.