BACKGROUND: Having an infant hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is a highly stressful event for parents. Researchers have proposed posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a model to explain the psychological reaction of parents to their NICU experience. OBJECTIVE: The authors sought to examine the prevalence of PTSD in parents 4 months after the birth of their premature or sick infants and the relationship of PTSD and symptoms of acute stress disorder (ASD) immediately after their infant's birth. METHOD: Eighteen parents completed a self-report measure of ASD at baseline in addition to self-report measures of PTSD and depression at a 4-month follow-up assessment. RESULTS: In the sample, 33% of fathers and 9% of mothers met criteria for PTSD. ASD symptoms were significantly correlated with both PTSD and depression. Fathers showed a more delayed onset in their PTSD symptoms, but, by 4 months, were at even greater risk than mothers. DISCUSSION: The relatively high levels of psychological distress experienced by parents coupled with the potential negative outcomes on the parent and infant suggest that it is important to try to prepare parents for the expected psychological reactions that may occur in the event of a NICU hospitalization and also to support parents during the transition to home care.
BACKGROUND: Having an infant hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is a highly stressful event for parents. Researchers have proposed posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a model to explain the psychological reaction of parents to their NICU experience. OBJECTIVE: The authors sought to examine the prevalence of PTSD in parents 4 months after the birth of their premature or sick infants and the relationship of PTSD and symptoms of acute stress disorder (ASD) immediately after their infant's birth. METHOD: Eighteen parents completed a self-report measure of ASD at baseline in addition to self-report measures of PTSD and depression at a 4-month follow-up assessment. RESULTS: In the sample, 33% of fathers and 9% of mothers met criteria for PTSD. ASD symptoms were significantly correlated with both PTSD and depression. Fathers showed a more delayed onset in their PTSD symptoms, but, by 4 months, were at even greater risk than mothers. DISCUSSION: The relatively high levels of psychological distress experienced by parents coupled with the potential negative outcomes on the parent and infant suggest that it is important to try to prepare parents for the expected psychological reactions that may occur in the event of a NICU hospitalization and also to support parents during the transition to home care.
Authors: Richard J Shaw; Nick St John; Emily A Lilo; Booil Jo; William Benitz; David K Stevenson; Sarah M Horwitz Journal: Pediatrics Date: 2013-09-02 Impact factor: 7.124
Authors: Sarah Mccue Horwitz; Ann Leibovitz; Emily Lilo; Booil Jo; Anne Debattista; Nick St John; Richard J Shaw Journal: Infant Ment Health J Date: 2014-12-01
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Authors: Julia S Seng; Mickey Sperlich; Lisa Kane Low; David L Ronis; Maria Muzik; Israel Liberzon Journal: J Midwifery Womens Health Date: 2013 Jan-Feb Impact factor: 2.388