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S. Fassino1,3, A.
Pierò1, S. Boggio1, V. Piccioni2 and L.
Garzaro1
1 Department of Neurosciences, Psychiatric
Institute and Clinic, University
School of Medicine, via Cherasco 15, CAP
10126, Turin and
2 Department of
Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 'S. Anna' Hospital of
Turin, Italy
BACKGROUND: Although several authors
have suggested an important
pathogenic role for psychosocial factors
in 'functional' infertility, the extent
to which depression, anxiety
and expressed emotional patterns correlate to
infertility is not yet
clear. METHODS: This study included 156 infertile couples
(recruited
at intake) and 80 fertile couples, whose personal characteristics
were recorded. They were examined using scales for the evaluation of the
degree of psychopathology [Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A),
Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D)], and anger expression
[State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory (STAXI)]. The 156 infertile
couples
were then subdivided into groups based on the cause of
infertility
('organic', 'functional' or 'undetermined').
The
psychometric evaluation was double-blind with respect to the causes
of infertility. RESULTS: Differences emerged in the degree of
psychopathology between 'organic' and 'functional' infertile subjects
and
fertile controls. In women, logistic regression identified three
variables able
to predict the diagnosis subtype; these variables are
HAM-A, HAM-D, and
tendency toward anger suppression. In men, anger
did not emerge as a
predictor for diagnosis, whereas HAM-A and HAM-D
did. CONCLUSIONS:
The 'functional' infertile subjects of this sample
showed particular
psychopathological and psychological features,
independent from the
stress reaction following the identification of
the cause of infertility.
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