Life crises and psychological problems can occur in any phase of life, but in pregnancy they often become a particular burden. This book aims to help pregnant women, their relatives and carers in the psychosocial and medical system to classify whether the feelings arising are normal and understandable or whether they involve psychological symptoms needing treatment. The discussion includes explanatory models of anxiety, depression, and mourning, as well as the psychological effects of pregnancy complications and stressful physical and psychological experiences. Information about the diagnostic criteria for mental disorders can help patients classify their own problems. Descriptions of relaxation procedures and therapy methods point the way to possible solutions. Particular emphasis is given to self-help strategies, with numerous example applications for a wide variety of problem areas.

Dr. Almut Dorn is a psychological psychotherapist with a specialist practice in gynaecological psychosomatics in Hamburg. Prof. Anke Rohde is a psychiatrist and psychotherapist who until 2015 was Director of Gynecological Psychosomatics at Bonn University Hospital.