2.2. Procedure
Women attending their routine 11–13 ultrasound appointment were offered the opportunity to be screened for preterm-PE risk status as part of the ASPRE trial. They were informed about the aims of the psychological evaluation that was carried out independently from the medical research. Participants who consented to taking part were asked to complete study questionnaires on three occasions during their course of pregnancy. The first questionnaire (time 1) was completed at 11–13 weeks, before PE screening. The results of the PE screening test were given to the participants during the first-trimester ultrasound examination. The result was either high risk for PE (>1 in 100) or low risk for PE. The high-risk group received medical counselling from a doctor regarding their risk status, its meaning, and the consequences. As part of the ASPRE trial, women at high risk for preterm PE were offered to be randomised into one of two groups: (a) daily low-dose aspirin (150 mg) until 36 weeks’ gestation or (b) a placebo group. A second questionnaire (time 2) was completed at 20–24 weeks when the women attended a hospital appointment or were mailed the questionnaires along with a prepaid envelope. The third questionnaire (time 3) at 28–32 weeks was posted to the participants’ home address. The local National Health Service research ethics committee granted ethics approval for this study (ref: 14/LO/1238).