TY - JOUR PY - 2008// TI - Prevalence and prediction of re‐experiencing and avoidance after elective surgical abortion: a prospective study JO - Clinical psychology and psychotherapy A1 - van Emmerik, Arnold A. P. A1 - Kamphuis, Jan H. A1 - Emmelkamp, Paul M. G. SP - 378 EP - 385 VL - 15 IS - 6 N2 - Objective: This study investigated short-term re-experiencing and avoidance after elective surgical abortion. In addition, it was prospectively investigated whether peritraumatic dissociation and pre-abortion dissociative tendencies and alexithymia predict re-experiencing and avoidance. Method: In a prospective observational design, Dutch-speaking women presenting for first trimester elective surgical abortion completed self-report measures for dissociative tendency and alexithymia. Peritraumatic dissociation was measured immediately post-abortion. Re-experiencing and avoidance were measured 2 months post-abortion. Results: Participants reported moderately elevated levels of re-experiencing and avoidance that exceeded a clinical cut-off point for 19.4% of the participants. Peritraumatic dissociation predicted intrusion and avoidance at 2 months. In addition, avoidance was predicted by the alexithymic aspect of difficulty describing feelings. Conclusions: Re-experiencing and avoidance after elective surgical abortion represent a significant clinical problem that is predicted by peritraumatic dissociation and alexithymia. Psychological screening and intervention might be a useful adjunct to elective abortion procedures. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

LA - SN - 1063-3995 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/cpp.586 ID - ref1 ER -