Received May 05, 2001
Accepted May 24, 2001

The objective of the present s tudy was to develop a program of psychological evaluation (PPE) in order to identify the occurrence of stress and to facilitate its treatment. A total de 128 women were submitted to PPE, after application of ART(lVF/ICSI) at least once. Psychometry was evaluated using a questionnaire with 15 questions selected in order to detect emotional reactions caused by infertility. The responses were assigned four grades with respect to intensity (1=mild; 2=medium; 3=high, 4=maximum/unbearable). The sum of the responses corresponded to a specific score ranging from 15 to 60 points. The reliability of the questionnaire was evaluated by the alpha coefficient of Cronbach. The specific PPE score identified five questions receiving 50% or more responses of the stressful type (sum of the percentages of responses with a score of 3 and 4). The specific mean PPE score was 33±6. The alpha coefficient of Cronbach was 0.757. A specific PPE score >40 points was defined as abnormal and identified the patient as having the assisted reproduction stress syndrome (ARSS) . The incidence of ARSS in this population was 15 % . ln concIusion the specific PPE score was an efficient tool for the identification of women with stress provoked by the application of ART and for the planning of their treatment. A psychological approach was developed for each stressful factor regardless of PPE score. ln the presence of ARSS, the patients may require specialized psychotherapy.