Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder after Traumatic Childbirth: A Case Report of Treatment with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Background: Childbirth can become a traumatic experience due to structural factors (e.g., negative experiences with medical staff) or individual ones (e.g., specific interpretations), which can lead to the development of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy is effective for the treatment of PTSD, and there is preliminary evidence of efficacy for PTSD following traumatic childbirth. Case Report: Mrs. G., on her own initiative, presented with symptoms of postpartum PTSD for individual outpatient therapy. The treatment was carried out according to the manual of Ehlers’ [1999] cognitive therapy. At the end of the approximately 1-year treatment, the PTSD symptoms were completely remitted, with Mrs. G. reporting a significant reduction in intrusions and a changed interpretation of many factors of the delivery situation. Conclusions: This case report shows an example of the use of Ehlers’ [1999] cognitive therapy for PTSD following traumatic childbirth. The aim was to facilitate the application of trauma-focused therapy in this scenario for psychotherapists.