The efficacy of psychological interventions for infertile patients: A meta-analysis examining mental health and pregnancy rate

Human Reproduction Update

Volumn 15, Issue 3, 2009, Pages 279-295

  Hämmerli, Katja ^a   Znoj, Hansjörg ^a   Barth, Jürgen ^a  

^a UNIVERSITY OF BERN   (Switzerland)

Author keywords

Assisted reproductive treatment; Infertility; Meta analysis; Pregnancy; Psychological intervention

Indexed keywords

ANXIETY; ARTICLE; CLINICAL TRIAL; COGNITION; COGNITIVE THERAPY; DATA BASE; DATA EXTRACTION; DEPRESSION; EFFECT SIZE; FERTILIZATION IN VITRO; HUMAN; INFERTILITY; INFERTILITY THERAPY; INTRACYTOPLASMIC SPERM INJECTION; MENTAL HEALTH; META ANALYSIS; PREGNANCY RATE; PRIORITY JOURNAL; PSYCHOTHERAPY; RELIABILITY; TREATMENT RESPONSE;

ADULT; CONTROLLED CLINICAL TRIALS AS TOPIC; FEMALE; HUMANS; INFERTILITY; MALE; MENTAL HEALTH; PREGNANCY; PREGNANCY RATE; REPRODUCTIVE TECHNIQUES, ASSISTED; TREATMENT OUTCOME;

EID: 64549135052     PISSN: 13554786     EISSN: 14602369     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1093/humupd/dmp002     Document Type: Article

References (100)

1. Abbey A, Halman LJ, Andrews FM. Psychosocial treatment and demographic predictors of the stress associated with infertility. Fertil Steril 1992;57:122-128.
2. Altman DG, Bland JM. Interaction revisited: The difference between two estimates. Br Med J 2003;326:219.
3. Beaurepaire J, Jones M, Thiering P, Saunders D, Tennant C. Psychosocial adjustment to infertility and its treatment: Male and female responses at different stages of IVF/ET treatment. J Psychosom Res 1994; 38:229-240.
4. Bents H. Verhaltenstherapeutische Paartherapie bei Kinderwunschpatienten. In: Brähler E, Myer A (eds). Psychologische Probleme in der Reproduktionsmedizin. Jahrbuch der Medizinischen Psychologie, Vol. 5. Berlin: Springer, 1991, 144-155.
5. Boivin J. A review of psychosocial interventions in infertility. Soc Sci Med 2003;57:2325-2341.
6. Boivin J, Takefman JE. Stress level across stages of in vitro fertilization in subsequently pregnant and nonpregnant women. Fertil Steril 1995; 64:802-810.
7. Brandt KH, Zech H. Effects of short-term psychotherapy on the success of an in vitro fertilization/embryo transfer program. Wien Med Wochenschr 1991;141:17-19.
8. Brandt K, Zech H. Results of a prognosis study of in vitro fertilization after brief psychotherapy. Geburtshilfe Frauenheilkd 1992;52 297-300.
9. Bresnick ER. A holistic approach to the treatment of the crisis of infertility. J Marital Fam Ther 1981;7:181-188.
10. Bresnick E, Taymor ML. The role of counseling in infertility. Fertil Steril 1979;32:154-156.
11. Brkovich AM, Fisher WA. Psychological distress and infertility: Forty years of research. J Psychosom Obstet Gynaecol 1998;19 218-228.
12. Chan CHY, Ng EHY, Chan CLW, Ho PC, Chan THY. Effectiveness of psychosocial group intervention for reducing anxiety in women undergoing in vitro fertilization: A randomized controlled study. Fertil Steril 2006;85:339-346.
13. Chen TH, Chang SP, Tsai CF, Juang KD. Prevalence of depressive and anxiety disorders in assisted reproductive technique clinic. Hum Reprod 2004;17:2313-2318.
14. Christie G, Morgan A. Individual and group psychotherapy with infertile couples. Int J Group Psychother 2000;50:237-250.
15. Christie G, Morgan A. Individual therapy, group therapy and co-therapy work with infertile couples. Aust J Psychother 2006;25 83-103.
16. Clark AM, Ledger W, Galletly C, Tomlinson L, Blaney F, Wang X, Norman RJ. Weight loss results in significant improvement in pregnancy and ovulation rates in anovulatory obese women. Hum Reprod 1995;10 2705-2712.
17. Clark AM, Thornley B, Tomlinson L, Galletley C, Norman RJ. Weight loss in obese infertile women results in improvement in reproductive outcome for all forms of fertility treatment. Hum Reprod 1998; 13 1502-1505.
18. Cochrane Collaboration: Review Manager 5.0. www.cc-ims.net/RevMan (4 September 2007, date last accessed).
19. Cohen J. Statistical Power Analysis for the Behavioral Sciences, revised edn. New York: Academic Press, 1977.
20. Connolly KJ, Edelmann RJ, Bartlett H, Cooke ID, Lenton E, Pike S. An evaluation of counselling for couples undergoing treatment for in-vitro fertilization. Hum Reprod 1993;8:1332-1338.
21. Cousineau TM, Corsini EA, Green TC, Barnard MT, Seibring A. A randomized-controlled study of an online infertility psychoeducational program. In: Abstracts of the 62nd Annual meeting of the ASRM, New Orleans, LA, 2006 Abstract O-130. Fertil Steril.
22. Covington S, Burns LH. Infertility Counseling: A Comprehensive Handbook for Clinicians, 2nd edn. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press, 2006.
23. De Klerk C, Hunfeld JAM, Duivenvoorden HJ, den Outer MA, Fauser B, Passchier J, Macklon NS. Effectiveness of a psychosocial counselling intervention for first-time IVF couples: A randomized controlled trial. Hum Reprod 2005;20:1333-1338.
24. De Liz TM, Strauss B. Differential efficacy of group and individual/ couple psychotherapy with infertile patients. Hum Reprod 2005; 20:1324-1332.
25. Demyttenaere K, Nijs P, Evers-Kiebooms G, Koninckx PR. Coping and the ineffectiveness of coping influence the outcome of in vitro fertilization through stress responses. Psychoneuroendocrinology 1992;17:655-665.
26. Demyttenaere K, Bonte L, Gheldof M, Vervaeke M, Meuleman C, Vanderschuerem D, D'Hooghe T. Coping style and depression level influence outcome in in vitro fertilization. Fertil Steril 1998; 69:1026-1033.
27. Domar AD, Seibel MM, Benson H. The mind/body program for infertility: A new behavioral treatment approach for women with infertility. Fertil Steril 1990;53:246-249.
28. Domar AD, Zuttermeister PC, Seibel M, Benson H. Psychological improvement in infertile women after behavioral treatment: A replication. Fertil Steril 1992;58:144-147.
29. Domar AD, Friedman R, Zuttermeister PC. Distress and conception in infertile women: A complementary approach. J Am Med Womens Assoc 1999;54:196-198.
30. Domar AD, Clapp D, Slawsby E, Kessel B, Orav J, Freizinger M. The impact of group psychological interventions on distress in infertile women. Health Psychol 2000a;19:568-575.
31. Domar AD, Clapp D, Slawsby EA, Dusek J, Kessel B, Freizinger M. Impact of group psychological interventions on pregnancy rates in infertile women. Fertil Steril 2000b;73:805-811.
32. Dunkel-Schetter C, Lobel M. Psychological reactions to infertility. In: Stanton AL, Dunkel-Schetter C (eds). Infertility: Perspectives from Stress and Coping Research. London, New York: Plenum Press, 1991, 29-57.
33. Dunkel-Schetter C, Stanton AL. Psychological adjustment to infertility. In: Stanton AL, Dunkel-Schetter C (eds). Infertility: Perspectives from Stress and Coping Research. London, New York: Plenum Press, 1991, 197-222.
34. Edelmann RJ, Humphrey M, Owens DJ. The meaning of parenthood and couples' reactions to male infertility. Br J Med Psychol 1994; 67:291-299.
35. Ellenberg J, Koren Z. Infertility and depression. Int J Fertil 1982; 27:219-223.
36. Emery M, Béran M-D, Darwiche J, Oppizzi L, Joris V, Capel R, Guex P, Germond M. Results from a prospective, randomized, controlled study evaluating the acceptability and effects of routine pre-IVF counselling. Hum Reprod 2003;18:2647-2653.
37. Emery M, Joris V, Béran M-D, Darwiche J, Capel R, Guex P, Germond M. Prospective study of pre-IVF counselling: One-year follow-up. J Reprod Med Endocrinol 2006;1:77-78.
38. Eugster A, Vingerhoets AJ. Psychological aspects of in vitro fertilization: A review. Soc Sci Med 1999;48:575-589.
39. Facchinetti F, Matteo ML, Artini GP, Volpe A, Genazzani AR. An increased vulnerability to stress is associated with poor outcome of in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer treatment. Fertil Steril 1997;67 309-314.
40. Facchinetti F, Tarabusi M, Volpe A. Cognitive-behavioral treatment decreases cardiovascular and neuroendocrine reaction to stress in women waiting for assisted reproduction. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2004;29:132-173.
41. Freeman EW, Boxer AS, Rickels K et al. Psychological evaluation and support in a program of in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer. Fertil Steril 1985;43:48-53.
42. Galletly C, Clark A, Tomlinson L, Blaney F. Improved pregnancy rates for obese, infertile women following a group treatment program: An open pilot study. Gen Hosp Psychiatry 1996a;18:192-195.
43. Galletly C, Clark A, Tomlinson L, Blaney F. A group program for obese, infertile women: Weight loss and improved psychological health. J Psychosom Obstet Gynaecol 1996b;17:125-128.
44. Gnoth C, Godehardt E, Frank-Herrmann P, Friol K, Tigges J, Freundl G. Definition and prevalence of subfertility and infertility. Hum Reprod 2005;20:1144-1147.
45. Greil AL. Infertility and psychological distress: A critical review of the literature. Soc Sci Med 1997;45:1679-1704.
46. Habbema JDF, Collins J, Leridon H, Evers JLh, Lunefeld B, te Velde ER. Towards less confusing terminology in reproductive medicine: A proposal. Hum Reprod 2004;19:1497-1501.
47. Harlow CR, Fahy UM, Talbot WM, Wardle PG, Hull MG. Stress and stress-related hormones during in-vitro fertilization treatment. Hum Reprod 1996;11:274-279.
48. Hauck WW. Odds ratio inference from stratified samples. Commun Stat A-Theor 1989;18:767-800.
49. Higgins JPT, Thompson SG, Deeks JJ, Altman DG. Measuring inconsistency in meta-analyses. Br Med J 2003;327:557-560.
50. Hoffman BM, Papas RK, Chatkoff DK, Kerns RD. Meta-analysis of psychological interventions for chronic low back pain. Health Psychol 2007;26:1-9.
51. Hölzle C, Brandt U, Lutkenhaus R, Wirtz M. Solution-focused counseling for involuntarily childless couples. In: Strauss B (ed). Involuntary Childlessness: Psychological Assessment, Counseling, and Psychotherapy. Ashland, OH: Hogrefe and Huber Publishers, 2002, 105-126.
52. Homan AC, Davies M, Norman R. The impact of lifestyle factors on reproductive performance in the general population and those undergoing infertility treatment: A review. Hum Reprod Update 2007; 11 1-15.
53. Hozo SP, Djulbegovic B, Hozo I. Estimating the mean and variance from the median, range, and the size of sample. BMC Med Res Methodol 2005;5:1-10.
54. Kemeter P, Fiegl J. Das psychosomatisch orientierte Gespräch im Rahmen der Sterilitätsbehandlung - eine Quantifizierung der Gesprächsschwerpunkte und der therapeutischen Strategien. J Fertil Reprod 1999;9:23-31.
55. Klonoff-Cohen H. Female and male lifestyle habits and IVF: What is known and unknown. Hum Reprod Update 2005;11:179-203.
56. Klonoff-Cohen H, Chu E, Natarajan L, Sieber W. A prospective study of stress among women undergoing in vitro fertilization or gamete intrafallopian transfer. Fertil Steril 2001;76:675-687.
57. Leiblum SR, Greenfield DA. The course of infertility: Immediate and long-term reactions. In: Leiblum S (ed). Infertility: Psychological Issues and Counselling Strategies. New York: John Wiley & Sons, 1997, 83-102.
58. Lespérance F, Frasure-Smith N, Koszycki D, Laliberté M-A, van Zyl LT, Baker B, Swenson JR, Ghatavi K, Abramson BL, Dorian P et al. Effects of citalopram and interpersonal psychotherapy on depression in patients with coronary artery disease: The Canadian Cardiac Randomized Evaluation of Antidepressant and Psychotherapy Efficacy (CREATE) trial. JAMA 2007;297:367-379.
59. Levitas E, Parmet A, Lunenfeld E, Bentov Y, Burstein E, Friger M, Potashnik G. Impact of hypnosis during embryo transfer on the outcome of in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer: A case-control study. Fertil Steril 2006;85:1404-1408.
60. Lipsey MW, Wilson DB. Practical Meta-Analysis. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage, 2001.
61. Liswood MP. Treating the crisis of infertility: A cognitive-behavioral approach. Dissertation Abstracts International Section A: Humanities and Social Sciences 55(12-A) 1995.
62. McNaughton-Cassill ME, Bostwick JM, Vanscoy SE, Arthur NJ, Hickman TN, Robinson RD, Neal GS. Development of brief stress management support groups for couples undergoing in vitro fertilization treatment. Fertil Steril 2000;74:87-93.
63. McNaughton-Cassill ME, Bostwick JM, Arthur NJ, Robinson RD, Neal GS. Efficacy of brief couples support groups developed to manage the stress of in vitro fertilization treatment. Mayo Clin Proc 2002;77 1060-1066.
64. McQueeney DA, Stanton AL, Sigmon S. Efficacy of emotion-focused and problem-focused group therapies for women with fertility problems. J Behav Med 1997;20:313-331.
65. Melamed RM, Bonetti TC, Pasqualotto FF, Locambo-Freitas CV, Iaconelli A, Borges E. Previous counseling to assisted reproduction treatment does bring the couples to reality. In: Abstracts of the 61st Annual meeting of the ASRM, Montreal, Canada, 2005. Abstract P-669. Fertil Steril.
66. Menning BE. The emotional needs of infertile couples. Fertil Steril 1980; 34:313-319.
67. O'Moore AM, O'Moore RR, Harrison RF, Murphy G, Carruthers ME. Psychosomatic aspects in idiopathic infertility: Effects of treatment with autogenic training. J Psychosom Res 1983;27:145-151.
68. Pengelly P, Inglis M, Cudmore L. Infertility: Couples' experiences and the use of counselling in treatment centres. Psychodyn Couns 1995;1:507-524.
69. Rezabek K, Vichova V, Pavelkova J, Zivny J. Hypnosis during embryo transfer does not ameliorate IVF results. In: Abstracts of the 19th Annual Meeting of ESHRE, Madrid, Spain, 2003. Abstract P-403. Hum Repro.
70. Rosenthal R, Rosnow RL, Rubin DB. Contrasts and Effect Sizes in Behavioral Research: A Correlational Approach. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press, 2000.
71. Roth A, Fonagy P. What Works for Whom? A Critical Review of Psychotherapy Research, 2nd edn. New York, NY: Guilford Press, 2004.
72. Sarrel PM, DeCherney AH. Psychotherapeutic intervention for treatment of couples with secondary infertility. Fertil Steril 1985;43 897-900.
73. Schmidt L, Tjornhoj-Thomsen T, Boivin J, Nyboe Andersen A. Evaluation of a communication and stress management training programme for infertile couples Patient. Educ Couns 2005;59:252-262.
74. Shu-Hsin L. Effects of using a nursing crisis intervention program on psychosocial responses and coping strategies of infertile women during in vitro fertilization. J Nurs Res 2003;11:197-208.
75. Slade P, Emery J, Lieberman BA. A prospective, longitudinal study of emotions and relationships in in-vitro fertilization treatment. Hum Reprod 1997;12:183-190.
76. Smeenk JM, Verhaak CM, Eugster A, van Minnen A, Zielhuis GA, Braat DD. The effect of anxiety and depression on the outcome of in-vitro fertilization. Hum Reprod 2001;16:1420-1423.
77. Smeenk JM, Verhaak CM, Stolwijk AM, Kremer JA, Braat DD. Reasons for dropout in an in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection program. Fertil Steril 2004;81:262-268.
78. Stanton AL, Tennen H, Affleck G, Mendola R. Cognitive appraisal and adjustment to infertility. Women Health 1991;17:1-15.
79. Stewart DE, Boydell KM, McCarthy K, Swerdlyk S, Redmond C, Cohrs W. A prospective study of the effectiveness of brief professionally-led support groups for infertility patients. Int J Psychiatry Med 1992;22:173-182.
80. Strauss B, Hepp U, Stading G, Mettler L. Focal counseling for women and couples with an unfulfilled desire for a child: A three-step model. In: Strauss B (ed). Involuntary Childlessness: Psychological Assessment, Counseling, and Psychotherapy. Ashland, OH: Hogrefe and Huber Publishers, 2002, 79-103.
81. Strauss B, Brähler E, Kentenich H. Fertilitätsstörungen - psychosomatisch orientierte Diagnostik und Therapie. Stuttgart: Schattauer, 2004.
82. Takefman J, Brender W, Boivin J, Tulandi T. Sexual and emotional adjustment of couples undergoing infertility investigation and the effectiveness of preparatory information. J Psychosom Obstet Gynaecol 1990;11:275-290.
83. Tarabusi M, Volpe A, Facchinetti E. Psychological group support attenuates distress of waiting in couples scheduled for assisted reproduction. J Psychosom Obstet Gynaecol 2004;25:273-279.
84. Thiering P, Beaurepaire J, Jones M, Saunders D, Tennant C. Mood state as a predictor of treatment outcome after in-vitro fertilization-embryo transfer technology (IVF/ET). J Psychosom Res 1993;37 481-491.
85. Tuschen-Caffier B, Florin I, Krause W, Pook M. Cognitive-behavioral therapy for idiopathic infertile couples. Psychother Psychosom 1999;68:15-21.
86. Verberg MFG, Eijkemans MJC, Heijnen EMEW, Broekmans FJ, de Klerk C, Fauser BCJM, Macklon NS. Why do couples drop-out from IVF treatment? A prospective cohort study. Hum Reprod 2008; 23:2050-2055.
87. Visser AP, Haan G, Zalmstra H, Wouters I. Psychosocial aspects of in vitro fertilization. J Psychosom Obstet Gynaecol 1994;15 35-43.
88. Wilson DB. Effect size determination program. University of Maryland, College Park, 2001. http://mason.gmu.edu/~dwilsonb/ma.html.
89. Winkley K, Landau S, Eisler I, Ismail K. Psychological interventions to improve glycaemic control in patients with type 1 diabetes: Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. Br Med J 2006;333:65.
90. Wischmann T. Psychogenic infertility - myths and facts. J Assist Reprod Genet 2003;20:485-494.
91. Wischmann T. Psychosocial aspects of fertility disorders. Urologe A 2005; 44:185-194.
92. Wischmann T, Stammer H, Scherg H, Gerhard I, Strowitzki T, Verres R. Evaluation of the psychological effects of counselling and couple-therapy with infertile couples. Paper presented at the 17th Annual Meeting of the European Society for Human Reproduction and Embryology. Hum Reprod 2001a;16:198.
93. Wischmann T, Stammer H, Scherg H, Gerhard I, Verres R. Psychological characteristics of infertile couples: A study of the "Heidelberg Fertility Consultation Service". Hum Reprod 2001b;16 1753-1761.
94. Wischmann T, Stammer H, Scherg H, Gerhard I, Verres R. Couple counselling and therapy for the unfulfilled desire for a child: The two-step approach of the "Heidelberg Infertility Consultation". In: Strauss B (ed). Involuntary Childlessness: Psychological Assessment, Counseling, and Psychotherapy. Ashland, OH: Hogrefe and Huber Publishers, 2002, 127-150.
95. World Health Organization. The epidemiology of infertility: Report of a WHO Scientific Group. WHO, Geneva, 1975.
96. World Health Organization. Current practices and controversies in assisted reproduction. Report of meeting on "Medical, Ethical and Social Aspects of Assisted Reproduction", 17-21 September 2001. WHO Headquarters, Geneva, Switzerland, 2002.
97. Wright J, Allard M, Lecours A, Sabourin S. Psychosocial distress and infertility: A review of controlled research. Int J Fertil 1989; 34:126-142.
98. Wright J, Duchesne C, Sabourin S, Bissonnette F, Benoit J, Girard Y. Psychosocial distress and infertility: Men and women respond differently. Fertil Steril 1991;55:100-108.
99. Zegers-Hochschild F, Nygren K-G, Adamson GD, de Mouzon J, Lancaster P, Mansour R, Sullivan E. The ICMART glossary on ART terminology. Hum Reprod 2006;21:1968-1970.
100. Zhen XH, Xie H, Xu X. Psychotherapy intervention for the insomnia status in patients with secondary infertility. Zhongguo Linchuang Kangfu 2005;9:33-35.