Author/Authors :
Tofighi Naeem, Azam Fetal and Neonatal Research Center - Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , Shariat, Mamak Fetal and Neonatal Research Center - Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , Zarkesh, Mohammad Reza Department of Pediatrics - Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , Abedinia, Nasrin Fetal and Neonatal Research Center - Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , Teimoorybakhsh, Sara Fetal and Neonatal Research Center - Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , Nayeri, Fatemeh Department of Pediatrics - Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Abstract :
Background: Parents of preterm neonates are exposed to stress leading to post traumatic stress disorders (PTSD).
Objectives: In the present study we compared the prevalence of PTSD in parents of hospitalized preterm and term neonates.
Methods: A descriptive-comparative study was undertaken in 2 Iranian Hospitals during 2016 and 2017. Parents of NICU hospitalized
preterm neonates as well as those of hospitalized term newborns entered the study. Parents were invited for interview at day 3
- 5 after neonate’s birth. Questionnaires for acute stress disorder (ASD) were filled out and scored for both mother and father. After
a month, parents were asked for a second interview. Prenatal post traumatic stress questionnaires (PPQ) for all mothers and posttraumatic
stress disorder checklist (PCL) for all fathers were completed. All recorded data were analyzed to compare the prevalence
of PTSD among parents of term and preterm infants. P values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant.
Results: Parents of 80NICUhospitalized preterm neonatesandparents of 80term hospitalized neonates entered the study. Both the
mean ASD and PPQ scores among mothers of preterm infants were significantly higher than those of mothers of term infants (53.77
13.58 vs. 49.2712.55; P = 0.032 and 31.6711.85 vs. 28.088.80; P = 0.032). The mean PCL score among fathers of preterm infants
was significantly higher than their counterparts in other group (31.514.9 vs. 21.375.4; P < 0.0001). A significant correlation was
observed between mother’s PPQ and father’s PCL scores (P < 0.0001). Mothers with higher ASD scores also showed higher PPQ scores
(P < 0.001).
Conclusions: Although hospitalization of a neonate is a stressful event for parent, neonate’s condition related age at birth was the
main subject for parents’ psychological complication and PTSD. Moreover, wefound that, of parents, mothers were more vulnerable
for PTSD but fathers indicated delayed onset of PTSD symptoms.
