Behandlung von postpartaler Depression mit Akupunktur

Pregnancy and childbirth are experienced as traumatic by around a third of all mothers, 12% of whom suffer from post-traumatic stress and 1.3–5% from post-traumatic stress disorder. Of pregnant women and women who have recently given birth, 10–15% are affected by postpartum depression (PPD). A common cause is psychological trauma during pregnancy and childbirth.

PPD can be significantly improved by treating the trauma. The EX.TRACT method, which combines acupuncture with trauma exposure and psychotherapy in five treatment steps, is very helpful here.

The treatment of prolonged pain during pregnancy and after childbirth also influences the psychological disorder.

In a preliminary medical history discussion, the central traumatizing situation is determined, which is then used as an image or imagination in the acupuncture therapy. The physical complaints are also discussed.

In the acupuncture session, the overall constitution and the physical complaints are treated first, which in this case report was with a combined treatment of acupuncture, osteopathy and manual therapy.

The patient then has to imagine the traumatic situation several times. The resulting physical discomfort and aversive feelings such as fear, anger and rage, sadness, disgust and exhaustion are largely eliminated immediately using appropriate acupuncture points.

The aim of the therapy is to erase the negative feelings in the limbic system so that the event is only stored in the episodic memory and the symptoms caused by the traumatic situation are eliminated.

The case report presents a patient who was physically injured and emotionally traumatised by childbirth. The prolonged birthing process ended in a vaginal injury and need for surgery after haemorrhage, leaving her unable to care for the baby.

A combined treatment of acupuncture, osteopathy and manual therapy was used for the physical pain. The psychological trauma and PPD were successfully treated with the EX.TRACT method in three treatment sessions.