Improving mental health outcomes of parents of infants treated in neonatal intensive care units: A scoping review

Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
Galea, Maria;Park, Tanya;Hegadoren, Kathy
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.

Journal

Journal of Neonatal Nursing

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Volume

28

ISBN/ISSN

1878-089X

Edition

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Issue

5

Pages Count

6

Location

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Publisher

Elsevier

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Publisher Location

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Publish Date

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Date

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EISSN

N/A

DOI

10.1016/j.jnn.2021.10.002