Improving mental health outcomes of parents of infants treated in neonatal intensive care units: A scoping review
Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCUAbstract
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
Publisher Url
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Publisher Location
N/A
Publish Date
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Url
N/A
Date
N/A
EISSN
N/A
DOI
10.1016/j.jnn.2021.10.002