Parent Mental Health Interventions in the NICU: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Area of Science:

• Neonatal care
• Parental mental health
• Evidence-based interventions

Background:

• Parental mental health and stress during NICU admission negatively impact long-term parent and infant well-being.
• NICU stays present unique challenges for parents, affecting their psychological state.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and synthesize literature on NICU-based interventions aimed at supporting parental mental health.
• To inform clinical practice and guide the development of standards of care for NICU parents.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive systematic search of major databases (PubMed, Embase, PsycINFO, etc.) was conducted for studies published between 2010 and 2024.
• Included studies were quantitative, focused on NICU interventions for parental mental health, used validated measures, and had infant admission data.
• Data extraction and synthesis followed PRISMA guidelines, with risk of bias assessed using Joanna Briggs Institute tools. Meta-analysis was performed where data permitted.

Main Results:

• The review included 160 studies involving 16,639 parents.
• Interventions such as psychotherapy, family-centered care, and bonding support significantly reduced parent anxiety and stress.
• Psychotherapy and expressive therapies showed effectiveness in reducing parent depression symptoms.

Conclusions:

• Effective NICU interventions exist to alleviate parental mental health symptoms.
• Hospitals should consider implementing resource-efficient interventions like family-centered care and education.
• Psychotherapy and emotional support interventions demonstrate consistent benefits across various mental health outcomes.