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Screening parents of high-risk infants for emotional distress: rationale and recommendations

M T Hynan1, K O Mounts, D L Vanderbilt

  • 1Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI, USA.

Journal of Perinatology : Official Journal of the California Perinatal Association
|June 29, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Hospitalizing a baby in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) can be traumatic for parents, leading to depression and post-traumatic stress. This review covers screening, risk factors, and interventions for parental emotional distress in the NICU.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) care
  • Parental mental health
  • Child development

Background:

  • Parental hospitalization of an infant in the NICU is a significant stressor.
  • Elevated symptoms of depression and post-traumatic stress are common in these parents.
  • Parental distress is linked to impaired infant and child development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review research on parental depression and post-traumatic stress in the NICU.
  • To examine the relationship between parental distress and child development.
  • To recommend screening protocols and interventions for at-risk parents.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on parental distress in the NICU.
  • Summary of validated screening tools for depression and post-traumatic stress.
  • Analysis of risk factors associated with parental emotional distress.

Main Results:

  • NICU hospitalization is associated with heightened parental depression and PTSD symptoms.
  • Parental distress negatively impacts infant and child development.
  • Validated screening tools and risk factors have been identified.

Conclusions:

  • Routine screening for maternal and paternal emotional distress in the NICU is recommended.
  • A proposed timetable and supportive interventions are outlined.
  • Referral options for high-risk parents are discussed.

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