The effect of a group programme on women with the Mayer‐Rokitansky‐Küster‐Hauser Syndrome

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of a group programme on psychological distress in women with the Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser (MRKH) syndrome. SETTING: Gynaecologic outpatient clinic. SAMPLE: Seventeen women with MRKH syndrome participated in this study. METHOD: A semi-structured programme of seven sessions was offered dealing with themes of the MRKH syndrome. Psychological distress was measured at the first visit 3-6 month before the group programme was started (pre-test-0), at the first (pre-test) and then at the last group session (post-test). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: The Symptom Check List-90 was used to assess feelings of psychological distress. RESULTS: The post-test subscale scores for anxiety, depression, interpersonal sensitivity and the total score for psychological distress were significantly lower than the pre-test-0 and pre-test scores (P < 0.05). No significant differences were found between the pre-test-0 and pre-test subscale scores and total score. CONCLUSION: A semi-structured group programme seems valuable in helping women with the MRKH syndrome to deal with their psychological stress.