Psychological Interventions and Grief-Related Protocols for Infertile Couples with a History of Spontaneous and Recurrent Miscarriage: A Systematic Review
Keywords:
Abortion, Habitual, Infertility, Psychological Intervention, Grief, Quality of Life Recurrent miscarriage, Psychological interventions, Quality of lifeAbstract
Objective: The primary aim was to synthesize evidence on the effectiveness of psychological interventions and grief protocols for infertile couples or women with spontaneous and recurrent miscarriage. Secondary aims included identifying intervention types, evaluating reported outcomes, and exploring factors affecting effectiveness.
Materials and Methods: PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science (Core Collection) were searched from inception to June 1, 2025. Eligible studies included randomized controlled trials, cohort, cross-sectional studies, and service evaluations on psychological interventions or grief protocols. Study quality was assessed using RoB 2 for RCTs and CASP for qualitative studies. Due to heterogeneity, findings were narratively synthesized.
Findings: Thirty-three studies were analyzed, evaluating approaches such as Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), brief supportive psychotherapy, Swanson’s Caring Theory-based counseling, art therapy, positive self-talk, and peer support. Sample sizes ranged from 14 to 932 participants, with follow-ups from immediate post-intervention to 14 months. Overall, interventions reduced anxiety, depression, and grief, and improved quality of life. Effectiveness varied by intervention timing and participant characteristics, including baseline distress and provision of medical information.
Conclusion: Psychological interventions can significantly alleviate the mental health burden following EPL. Early screening and integrated medical-psychological care are recommended. Further robust research is needed to define optimal strategies.
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References
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