TY - JOUR
T1 - Mental health monitoring in parents after very preterm birth
AU - Vriend, Eline
AU - Leemhuis, Aleid
AU - Flierman, Monique
AU - van Schie, Petra
AU - Jeukens-Visser, Martine
AU - Nollet, Frans
N1 - Funding Information: We would like to thank Dr. Tinka Br?ring-Starre for critically reviewing the manuscript. Publisher Copyright: © 2021 The Authors. Acta Paediatrica published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Foundation Acta Paediatrica
PY - 2021/11/1
Y1 - 2021/11/1
N2 - Aim: To evaluate parental mental health monitoring during follow-up care for very preterm (VPT) infants, describe symptoms of anxiety and depression and risk factors for mothers and fathers at 1 and 12 months of corrected age. Methods: Parents completed the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Psychological symptoms and risk factors were analysed within and between mothers and fathers. Results: In 4 years, the monitoring reached 1260 (48%) families. Of these, 693 mothers and 340 fathers (300 couples) completed the HADS twice. At 1 month, 22% and 15% of the mothers and 10% and 9% of the fathers, respectively, reported elevated symptoms of anxiety and depression. At 12 months, these rates were significantly reduced to 14% and 9% for mothers and 5% and 4% for fathers respectively. Within couples, anxiety and depression were positively associated. At 12 months, in 20% of the couples, one or both parents reported elevated symptoms. Risk factors were length of hospital stay, migration background, educational level and employment status. Conclusion: The mental health of parents of VPT infants improved, but elevated symptoms were still observed in 17% of included families after one year. Acknowledging and remediating parental mental health remain essential during follow-up care.
AB - Aim: To evaluate parental mental health monitoring during follow-up care for very preterm (VPT) infants, describe symptoms of anxiety and depression and risk factors for mothers and fathers at 1 and 12 months of corrected age. Methods: Parents completed the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Psychological symptoms and risk factors were analysed within and between mothers and fathers. Results: In 4 years, the monitoring reached 1260 (48%) families. Of these, 693 mothers and 340 fathers (300 couples) completed the HADS twice. At 1 month, 22% and 15% of the mothers and 10% and 9% of the fathers, respectively, reported elevated symptoms of anxiety and depression. At 12 months, these rates were significantly reduced to 14% and 9% for mothers and 5% and 4% for fathers respectively. Within couples, anxiety and depression were positively associated. At 12 months, in 20% of the couples, one or both parents reported elevated symptoms. Risk factors were length of hospital stay, migration background, educational level and employment status. Conclusion: The mental health of parents of VPT infants improved, but elevated symptoms were still observed in 17% of included families after one year. Acknowledging and remediating parental mental health remain essential during follow-up care.
KW - follow-up care
KW - parental anxiety and depression
KW - post-discharge programme
KW - very preterm children
UR - https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?partnerID=HzOxMe3b&scp=85113178063&origin=inward
UR - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/34375472
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85113178063&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - https://doi.org/10.1111/apa.16064
DO - https://doi.org/10.1111/apa.16064
M3 - Article
C2 - 34375472
SN - 0803-5253
VL - 110
SP - 2984
EP - 2993
JO - Acta Paediatrica, International Journal of Paediatrics
JF - Acta Paediatrica, International Journal of Paediatrics
IS - 11
ER -