Identifying key diaphragm ultrasound predictors for early screening of respiratory sarcopenia.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychological condition that arises after trauma, affecting emotions, thoughts, and behavior in daily life and social interactions []. Although childbirth is comonly viewed as a positive experience, it can also be a highly stressful event with physical and psychological risks, including PTSD []. Studies showed that approximately one-third of women perceived childbirth as traumatic, and about a quarter experienced significant PTSD symptoms after delivery [, ]. Postpartum post-traumatic stress disorder (PP-PTSD) is a specific form of PTSD triggered by childbirth, characterized by persistent and repetitive re-experiencing of traumatic events, avoidance and emotional numbing, and persistent increased vigilance []. Recent studies revealed that PP-PTSD affected a significant portion of new mothers, with an estimated prevalence of 10% in the general perinatal population []. Among high-risk pregnancies, the rates were even higher, ranging from 16% to 41.2% [, ]. These findings highlighted PP-PTSD as a critical public health issue, particularly due to its associations with adverse maternal and infant outcomes, including preterm birth, gestational diabetes, pre-eclampsia, and increased mortality risks []. Beyond immediate obstetric complications, PP-PTSD negatively impacted child development. When mothers experienced trauma during the perinatal period, it disrupted the infant’s stress response system, weakened mother-infant bonding, and contributed to insecure attachment patterns, ultimately affecting the child’s emotional, social, and cognitive development [–]. Even at sub-clinical levels, PP-PTSD symptoms persisted, with detectable psychological distress lasting up to two years postpartum []. The significant prevalence and clinical impact of PP-PTSD highlight the urgent need for effective screening tools. These tools could help find out vulnerable women, reduce exposure to known risk factors, and facilitate timely interventions []. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders(DSM) published by the American Psychiatric Association [], the diagnostic criteria for PP-PTSD require that the patient has experienced core symptoms for more than one month. Physicians diagnose the condition using high-standard structured clinical diagnostic interviews or patient self-report questionnaires [, ]. In clinical practice, the management of PP-PTSD primarily focuses on secondary prevention, due to low public awareness and understanding of PP-PTSD. Most postpartum women do not receive timely screening and assessment for PP-PTSD.