Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 26, 2025

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale
19:15

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale

Published on: August 25, 2014

86.8K

Maternal and Paternal Depression Symptoms During NICU Stay and Transition Home

Craig F Garfield1,2, Young S Lee2, Liam Warner-Shifflett2

  • 1Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois c-garfield@northwestern.edu.

Pediatrics
|August 3, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Maternal depression symptoms decrease during NICU stays but may rise post-discharge, while paternal symptoms show a different trajectory. Early screening in the NICU improves postpartum depression risk prediction.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) care
  • Parental mental health
  • Perinatal psychiatry

Background:

  • Parental depression is a significant concern for infants in the NICU.
  • Understanding the evolving nature of parental depression symptoms is crucial for timely intervention.
  • Existing research often focuses on mothers, potentially overlooking paternal mental health in the NICU context.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the changes in depression symptoms among parents of premature infants from NICU admission through 30 days post-discharge.
  • To identify risk factors associated with parental depression during this critical period.
  • To compare the depressive symptom trajectories between mothers and fathers.

Main Methods:

  • A prospective longitudinal cohort study involving parents of premature infants admitted to the NICU.
  • Utilized the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) for screening at four time points: NICU admission, discharge, and 14 and 30 days post-discharge.
  • Employed mixed-effects regression models to analyze EPDS score changes and the probability of positive screening (EPDS ≥10).

Main Results:

  • A significant proportion of parents screened positive for depression: 33% of mothers and 17% of fathers.
  • Mothers showed a greater decrease in depressive symptoms during the NICU stay compared to fathers.
  • Early screening during NICU admission or at discharge significantly improved the prediction of 30-day depressive symptoms.

Conclusions:

  • Mothers and fathers exhibit distinct patterns of depressive symptom changes from NICU hospitalization to home.
  • Screening parents for postpartum depression during the NICU stay enhances the identification of those at risk after discharge.
  • There is a need for focused attention on the mental health of fathers in the NICU setting.
Abstract

More Related Videos

Using a Murine Model of Psychosocial Stress in Pregnancy as a Translationally Relevant Paradigm for Psychiatric Disorders in Mothers and Infants06:39

Using a Murine Model of Psychosocial Stress in Pregnancy as a Translationally Relevant Paradigm for Psychiatric Disorders in Mothers and Infants

Published on: June 13, 2021

3.2K
Clinical Practice Protocol of Creative Music Therapy for Preterm Infants and Their Parents in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit11:50

Clinical Practice Protocol of Creative Music Therapy for Preterm Infants and Their Parents in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Published on: January 7, 2020

27.0K

Related Concept Videos

Depressive Disorders: Etiology01:27

Depressive Disorders: Etiology

Depressive disorders result from a complex interplay of biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors, each contributing uniquely to the development and persistence of the condition. Understanding these factors provides critical insight into the multifaceted nature of depression.
Biological Factors in Depression
Biological predispositions significantly influence the risk of developing depressive disorders. Genetic studies highlight the role of variations in the serotonin transporter...
196
Depressive Disorders: MDD and Dysthymia01:27

Depressive Disorders: MDD and Dysthymia

Depressive disorders are a group of mental health conditions characterized by pervasive feelings of sadness, diminished pleasure in life, and a significant impact on daily functioning. These conditions are most prevalent in individuals during their 30s and affect women at twice the rate of men. Contrary to popular belief, younger individuals are generally more susceptible to these disorders than older adults. Two key types of depressive disorders include Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and...
260
Depression: Overview01:18

Depression: Overview

Depression is a prevalent mental illness marked by persistent sadness and lack of interest in previously enjoyable activities. It can take several forms, including major depression, persistent depressive disorder, and bipolar I and II disorders. Symptoms range from emotional changes like chronic worry to physical changes like sleep disturbances and suicidal thoughts. From a neurobiological perspective, depression is believed to be triggered by abnormalities in the brain's prefrontal cortex,...
489
Long-term Depression01:03

Long-term Depression

Long-term depression, or LTD, is one of the ways by which synaptic plasticity—changes in the strength of chemical synapses—can occur in the brain. LTD is the process of synaptic weakening that occurs over time between pre and postsynaptic neuronal connections. The synaptic weakening of LTD works in opposition to synaptic strengthening by long-term potentiation (LTP) and together are the main mechanisms that underlie learning and memory.
Calcium Ion Concentration Mechanism
If over...
2.7K
Long-term Depression01:05

Long-term Depression

Long-term depression, or LTD, is one of the ways by which synaptic plasticity—changes in the strength of chemical synapses—can occur in the brain. LTD is the process of synaptic weakening that occurs over time between pre and postsynaptic neuronal connections. The synaptic weakening of LTD works in opposition to synaptic strengthening by long-term potentiation (LTP) and together are the main mechanisms that underlie learning and memory.
32.0K
Socioemotional Development during Infancy01:30

Socioemotional Development during Infancy

Socio-emotional development in infancy is primarily shaped by early emotional responses and social connections, with temperament playing a central role. Temperament refers to the consistent patterns in an individual's emotional and behavioral responses, observable even in infancy. By examining temperament, researchers can better understand an infant's unique ways of interacting with the world, influencing subsequent personality and socio-emotional growth.
Primary Temperament Types
203