Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 6, 2025

Clinical Practice Protocol of Creative Music Therapy for Preterm Infants and Their Parents in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
11:50

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

Published on: January 7, 2020

26.4K

Mental Health Symptoms in Parents of Infants 3 Months After Discharge Following Neonatal Cardiac Surgery

Amy J Lisanti1, Ryan Quinn2, Jesse L Chittams3

  • 1Amy J. Lisanti is an assistant professor at University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing and Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

American Journal of Critical Care : an Official Publication, American Association of Critical-Care Nurses
|December 31, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Parental role alteration in the pediatric cardiac intensive care unit (PCICU) predicts anxiety, depression, and posttraumatic stress in parents of infants with congenital heart disease (CHD) after discharge.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Cardiology
  • Parental Mental Health
  • Critical Care Nursing

Background:

  • Parents of newborns with congenital heart disease (CHD) face significant mental health challenges, including anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress.
  • Factors influencing parental mental health during the pediatric cardiac intensive care unit (PCICU) postoperative stay are not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess mental health symptoms in parents of infants with CHD at 3 months post-PCICU discharge.
  • To identify factors during the PCICU stay that predict these parental mental health symptoms.

Main Methods:

  • A longitudinal cohort pilot study involving 56 parents (28 dyads) of 28 infants with CHD.
  • Parents completed questionnaires during the first postoperative week in the PCICU.
  • Validated measures of anxiety, depression, and posttraumatic stress were administered 3 months after discharge.

Main Results:

  • At 3 months post-discharge, 26% of parents reported elevated anxiety, 21% significant depressive symptoms, and 19% posttraumatic stress symptoms.
  • Parental role alteration in the PCICU predicted all three symptom types (anxiety, depression, posttraumatic stress).
  • Higher education and postnatal CHD diagnosis were also significant predictors for specific symptoms.

Conclusions:

  • Perceived parental role alteration during the PCICU stay is a modifiable stressor impacting parental mental health post-discharge.
  • Interventions focused on mitigating parental role alteration in the PCICU are essential for improving long-term parental well-being.
Abstract

More Related Videos

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale19:15

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

Published on: August 25, 2014

86.0K
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

3.1K

Related Concept Videos

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
55
Psychological and Sociocultural Causes of Schizophrenia01:29

Psychological and Sociocultural Causes of Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia, a complex psychiatric disorder, has been historically misunderstood. Early psychological theories attributed its origins to childhood trauma and unresponsive parenting. However, contemporary research largely rejects these notions, favoring the vulnerability-stress hypothesis. This model proposes that individuals with a genetic predisposition to schizophrenia may develop the disorder following exposure to significant environmental stressors. Notably, studies on high-risk...
91
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder01:27

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric condition that arises following exposure to traumatic events such as natural disasters, forced displacement, or severe accidents. It significantly impairs individuals' ability to cope with daily activities and disrupts their emotional and psychological equilibrium.
Symptoms and Behavioral Manifestations
A spectrum of distressing symptoms characterizes PTSD. Recurrent flashbacks, where individuals involuntarily relive traumatic events,...
35
Autism Spectrum Disorder01:19

Autism Spectrum Disorder

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition marked by persistent deficits in social communication and interaction alongside restrictive and repetitive behaviors or interests. ASD is sometimes accompanied by intellectual impairment.
These core symptoms manifest differently among individuals, ranging from mild to severe. The disorder's complexity extends beyond its clinical presentation, encompassing a diverse range of biological, cognitive, and sociocultural influences.
99
Attachment01:20

Attachment

Attachment is vital for infant development, as warm social interactions support growth and well-being. In a classic 1958 study by Harry Harlow, the significance of warmth and comfort in forming attachments was examined. Harlow separated newborn monkeys from their mothers and provided two artificial "mothers": one made of cold wire and the other covered in soft cloth. Despite the wire mother offering food, the infant monkeys preferred the comfort of the cloth mother, demonstrating that...
63
Stress and Mental Health01:30

Stress and Mental Health

Chronic stress profoundly affects mental health, significantly influencing mood, behavior, and overall quality of life. Research closely links chronic stress with mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders. Ongoing exposure to stress can lead to physiological and psychological changes, initiating a cycle of emotional distress and maladaptive coping mechanisms.
Individuals with depression often experience challenges in both their personal and professional...
157