Galea, Maria, Park, Tanya, and Hegadoren, Kathy (2022) Improving mental health outcomes of parents of infants treated in neonatal intensive care units: A scoping review. Journal of Neonatal Nursing, 28 (5). pp. 327-334.

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Abstract

Parents of infants who require neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) hospitalization encounter stressors that place them at a higher risk of developing a mental health issue during and after NICU discharge. This population is often underdiagnosed, leading to potential detrimental effects on parenting behaviours, parent/infant bonding, and child neurodevelopment. This review explores what mental health issues parents experience during and after NICU discharge, what mental health resources are currently available, what mental health screening tools are used, and what factors place NICU parents at an increased risk of developing a mental health issue. The review revealed that mental health issues are not isolated; if a parent experiences psychological distress, it can progress to depression or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) if left untreated. Psychotherapy most frequently contributed to a reduction in mental health symptoms, but was rarely offered beyond NICU discharge.

Item ID:	82249
Item Type:	Article (Research - C1)
ISSN:	1878-089X
Copyright Information:	© 2021 Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of Neonatal Nurses Association. All rights reserved
Date Deposited:	25 Mar 2024 00:25
FoR Codes:	42 HEALTH SCIENCES > 4205 Nursing > 420501 Acute care @ 100%
SEO Codes:	20 HEALTH > 2001 Clinical health > 200199 Clinical health not elsewhere classified @ 100%
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