Post-traumatic stress disorder specific to parents in the neonatal intensive care unit

The experience of having an infant admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) can be highly traumatic for parents, potentially leading to symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Despite the significant emotional impact of the NICU experience, the prevalence rates of probable PTSD among NICU parents, as measured by validated Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, (DSM-5) self-report instruments, have not been extensively documented. The aim of this study was to address this gap.

The aim of this pilot study was to assess the prevalence rates of probable PTSD in NICU parents at five time points over 12 months. A secondary aim was to identify differences in probable PTSD between mothers and fathers.

The standardised PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 self-report measure was used to screen parents for symptoms of probable PTSD at the NICU hospital admission, discharge, and 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months of infant corrected age. Probable PTSD was identified with a cut-off score ≥31.

A total of 102 parents participated in the study. At hospital admission, 13% of NICU parents met the criteria for a probable PTSD diagnosis, with mothers being twice as likely as fathers to report PTSD symptoms. The majority of parents recovered. A critical subset of parents (6%) reported severe and persistent symptoms of probable PTSD at 12 months.

The use of the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 administered by neonatal nurses can help identify potential signs of parental stress or trauma. Further research must assess whether early screening and referral improve parental outcomes.