Identifying mothers of very preterm infants at-risk for postpartum depression and anxiety before discharge

Abstract

ObjectiveWe investigated whether particular demographic, maternal psychosocial, and infant factors identified mothers of very preterm infants at risk for postpartum depression or anxiety at the time of discharge from a level III urban Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).Study DesignA racially diverse cohort of mothers (N=73) of preterm infants (gestational age <30 weeks) completed a comprehensive questionnaire at discharge from the NICU assessing postpartum depression, anxiety, and psychosocial and demographic factors. Additionally, infants underwent brain magnetic resonance imaging prior to discharge.ResultTwenty percent of mothers had clinically significant levels of depression while 43% had moderate-severe anxiety. Being married (p<.01), parental role alteration (p<.01) and prolonged ventilation (p<.05) were associated with increased depressive symptoms. No psychosocial, demographic, or infant factors, including severity of brain injury, were associated with state anxiety levels.ConclusionMaternal factors, such as marital status, stress from parental role alteration, and infant factors, such as prolonged ventilation, are associated with increased depression. However, clinically significant levels of anxiety are common in mothers of very preterm infants with few identifiable risk factors. These findings support the need for universal screening within the NICU.

Depressive symptoms and the relationship of stress, sleep, and well-being among NICU mothers

“…Examining the group assignment in the other ethnic groups, there was essentially even distribution. Racial difference alone has not consistently been recognized as a risk factor for heighten depressive symptoms among postpartum women [43] rather it may be a combination of limited financial status and social support, both potential stressors. Mothers in this study reported high stress, poor sleep, and poor well-being, suggesting that mothers with a preterm infant cared for in the NICU are particularly vulnerable to depressive symptoms.…”

Depressive symptoms and associated factors in caregivers of newborn infants hospitalized in a neonatal intensive care unit

“…In addition, this study did not include the measurement of some outcome measures previously studied by other authors, such as NBI cortisol levels, and caregiver resilience. [27][28][29] Otherwise, some of the strengths of this study were that it allowed caregivers to self-complete the depressive symptom report scales, and the inclusion of a structured survey to explore outcome measures of interest. In addition, the detection of factors associated with depressive symptoms in the population of developing countries is actually useful to improve the interdisciplinary management.…”

Síntomas depresivos en familiares cuidadores de recién nacidos en una Unidad de Cuidado Intensivo Neonatal y factores asociados

“…En segundo lugar, la disminución del tamaño de muestra en el seguimiento pudo comprometer la medición final de síntomas depresivos. Además, la medición de algunas variables estudiadas previamente por otros autores, como los niveles de cortisol del RN y la resiliencia de los cuidadores, [27][28][29] no fue incluida en este análisis.…”