Protecting the infant-parent relationship: special emphasis on perinatal mood and anxiety disorder screening and treatment in neonatal intensive care unit parents

EBNEO commentary: Elevated depression and anxiety symptoms in parents of very preterm infants while hospitalised and post‐discharge

“…Untreated PMADs have been associated with worse health outcomes for mothers and their children 2 . While this study focuses on parental symptoms of depression and anxiety, others have shown that efforts towards PMAD prevention, diagnosis and treatment improve health outcomes for preterm infants 2 . Here, we highlight three future directions in PMAD research with potential to improve health outcomes for families who are affected by preterm birth.…”

“…In summary, inclusive NICU mental health initiatives will improve health outcomes for those affected by premature birth. Since this study in 2016, efforts towards these initiatives have gained traction 2,9 . Although there is much work to be done around PMADs and their impact on family well‐being, we are encouraged by studies like Pace et al that bring attention to its importance.…”

“…NICU parents have a higher prevalence of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs) 1 . Untreated PMADs have been associated with worse health outcomes for mothers and their children 2 . While this study focuses on parental symptoms of depression and anxiety, others have shown that efforts towards PMAD prevention, diagnosis and treatment improve health outcomes for preterm infants 2 .…”

“…While both tools used in this study, the CES‐D and HADS have been reported in parents of preterm infants, a limitation of this study, as well as current gap in the literature, is the absence of a validated screening tool specific to the NICU parent population. Current literature reports a myriad of assessment tools, yet there is no single comprehensive tool validated for NICU caregivers that screens for the most common PMAD diagnoses in this population: depression, anxiety and post‐traumatic stress disorder 2,5 . The development of such a tool would aid screening efforts.…”

Addressing caregiver mental health in the neonatal ICU

“…In general, co-located mental health services improve referrals [23 ▪▪ ] and outcomes of postpartum depression when management and treatment occur within the same practice that conducted the screening [24]. Mental health programmes that are integrated into routine NICU care are therefore the ideal setting to provide brief behavioural interventions that directly address the mental health of caregivers in the indirect service of the child [25]. Despite these recommendations, only 44% of NICUs routinely screened using any method, only 47% provided parental education about mental health or services, and 24% did not screen at all [26 ▪▪ ].…”