Thousands of UK women have undiagnosed PTSD after childbirth each year, study finds

Research has estimated that either 5% or 5.9% of women giving birth in the UK suffer PTSD. Photograph: Science Photo Library/Getty Images/Science Photo Library RF

Thousands of UK women develop undiagnosed post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after childbirth every year, research has found.

The frightening and dangerous condition is being missed in at least 15,000 women a year across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and the true toll could be double that or more, according to the authors of research in a leading medical journal.