Infants in a neonatal intensive care unit: parental response

Abstract

Objective: To compare the psychosocial functioning of the parents (mother and father) of infants admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) with the parents of infants born at term and not admitted to the NICU. Design: Random sample of NICU parents and term non-NICU parents were assessed across a variety of psychiatric and psychosocial measures shortly after the birth of their infant. Setting: Christchurch Women's Hospital, New Zealand. Labour ward and level III NICU. Participants: A total of 447 parents (242 mothers; 205 fathers) with an infant admitted to a regional NICU during a 12 month period; 189 parents (100 mothers; 89 fathers) with infants born at term and not requiring NICU admission. Main outcome measures: Depression and anxiety symptoms, psychosocial functioning. Results: Overall, levels of anxiety and depression were low in both parent groups. Compared with control parents, a higher percentage of NICU parents had clinically relevant anxiety and were more likely to have had a previous NICU admission and be in a lower family income bracket. Infant prematurity was associated with higher levels of symptomatology in both NICU mothers and fathers. Conclusions: Specific interventions are not needed for most parents who have an infant admitted to the NICU as they appear to adapt relatively successfully. Infant prematurity impacts negatively on the father as well as the mother. Consequently these parents may benefit from increased clinical attention.

Estrés en padres de recién nacidos hospitalizados en una unidad de paciente crítico neonatal

“…This differs from the studies by Carter et al 5,6 and Dudek-Shriber 8 , in which higher stress scores in mothers are associated with having complicated pregnancies and not having previous experience of having a child hospitalized in a NICU 5,6,8 .…”

“…Several investigations [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10] agree that having a hospitalized NB produces high levels of stress in parents. The expectation of having a healthy child is interrupted by the shock that means to be separated from him/her and not being able to take care of their baby as imagined.…”

Antenatal diagnosis of congenital anomaly: a really traumatic experience?

“…Therefore, as any traumatic event, at least a single session debriefing or non-directive counseling with psychologist should be offered to prospective parents soon after communication of diagnosis. [26][27][28][29][30] As trauma specialists have long asserted therapeutic value of sharing traumatic experience as crucial to recovery from psychological trauma, 31,32 collecting stories of traumatic experience should be encouraged as part of the consultation process.…”

The Anxiety Levels of the Parents of Premature Infants and Related Factors

“…Previous studies show that the mothers of premature infants in the NICU may have a mild level (11,12), medium level (13,14) and high level (15,16) of anxiety.…”