Long-term risk of mental health problems in women experiencing preterm birth: a longitudinal study of 29 mothers

Abstract

BackgroundSeveral studies have reported significantly higher stress levels, both short and long terms, among mothers giving preterm birth compared with mothers giving birth at term. Stress, however, is a psychological phenomenon that may present as anxiety, depression and/or trauma reactions. In this study, the long-term mental health outcomes and the prevalence of anxiety, depression and trauma reactions in women experiencing preterm birth were explored. Interactional, main effect variables and predictors were identified.MethodsTwenty-nine mothers of 35 premature children born before the 33rd week of pregnancy were assessed within 2 weeks postpartum (T0), 2 weeks after hospitalization (T1), 6 months post-term (T2), and 18 months post-term (T3). The standardized psychometric methods Impact of Event Scale (IES), General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) and State Anxiety Inventory (STAI-X1) assessed the maternal mental health outcomes.ResultsThe maternal mental health problems except state anxiety decreased from T0 to T1, but remained high and stable at T3. The prevalence of posttraumatic stress reactions (PTSR) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) at T0 and T3 was 52% and 23%, respectively. We identified the time period between T0 and T1 to have a significant main effect on mental health outcomes. The predictors of higher levels of mental health problems were preeclampsia, previous psychological treatment, age, trait anxiety and infant's postnatal intraventricular haemorrhage. Bleeding in pregnancy predicted lower levels of mental health problems.ConclusionsThe prevalence of maternal mental health problems remained high, emphasizing the importance of effective interventions.

Parenting stress trajectories in mothers of very preterm infants to 2 years

“…When we examined parenting stress at 4 months of age there was no difference between preterm and term cohorts,15 but it would seem that any benefit of our current neonatal practices was not sustained, with the preterm mothers having higher level of stress at 2 years. The higher levels of parenting stress may be explained, however by high levels of anxiety, depression and stress in preterm mothers23 and indeed in the present study, these factors were associated with higher Total Stress Scores on the PSI. We did not measure infant self-regulation, but this has been reported to be impaired at 2 years of age for very preterm infants24 and may contribute to increased levels of parenting stress.…”

Mental Health Disorders Subsequent to Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Differ by Race/Ethnicity

“…Pregnancy complications included as covariates were preterm birth (PTB), defined as gestational age >24 weeks and <37 weeks; and PE, defined as normotension at the first prenatal visit (first trimester) followed by hypertension (blood pressure, BP ≥140/90 mmHg) and proteinuria (≥0.3 g protein/24 hr or dipstick 2+ protein) after 20 weeks gestation. PTB has been independently associated with an increased risk for postpartum depression and anxiety . PE has also been significantly associated with postpartum depression …”

Depression and anxiety symptoms of mothers of preterm infants are decreased at 4 months corrected age with Family Nurture Intervention in the NICU

“…Anxiety symptoms are also elevated following premature delivery (Misund et al 2013;Singer et al 1999). Infants born prematurely can have prolonged hospitalization in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), and the resulting physical separation can adversely affect the emotional well-being of both mothers and infants (Aylward 2005;Moster et al 2008).…”