A narrative review on emerging issues about war-related trauma in perinatal women: good practice for assessment, prevention, and treatment

Wars, in addition to causing death and destruction, have a negative impact on mental health, especially on perinatal women. The literature has identified psychological trauma as one of the most prevalent mental health issues associated with wars, but few studies have summarized how to assess, prevent, or treat this problem in perinatal women. To address this gap, the purpose of this study is to provide a narrative review of the current state of assessment, prevention, and treatment interventions of trauma among perinatal women living in war conditions or displaced as a result of a war. A literature search was performed in different research databases (e.g., Medline, PsycInfo). The search terms include a combination of trauma and stressor-related disorders and focused on diagnosis, prevention, and treatment. Most of the results were related to post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) more than acute stress disorder, although there are not many assessments, and interventions (prevention or treatment) dedicated specifically to perinatal women affected by war conditions. Research in this area is still scarce. Recommendations for evidence-based practices in assessment and prevention and treatment interventions and future directions in research and clinical practice are provided. • The literature on trauma in perinatal women is sparse, and especially among perinatal women living in conditions of war. • This paper presents a narrative review of evidence-based assessment and treatment for perinatal women victims of war who experience trauma.