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. 2017 Jan:104:27-31.
doi: 10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2016.11.006. Epub 2016 Dec 12.

Does maternal psychological distress affect neurodevelopmental outcomes of preterm infants at a gestational age of ≤32weeks

Ozlem Bozkurt  1 , Zeynep Eras  2 , Fatma Nur Sari  3 , Evrim Alyamac Dizdar  3 , Nurdan Uras  3 , Fuat Emre Canpolat  3 , Serife Suna Oguz  3
Affiliations

Does maternal psychological distress affect neurodevelopmental outcomes of preterm infants at a gestational age of ≤32weeks

Ozlem Bozkurt et al. Early Hum Dev. 2017 Jan.

Abstract

Background: There is some evidence that maternal psychological status in the prenatal and postnatal periods is associated with infants' cognitive, behavioural, and emotional functions.

Aim: The aim of this study was to examine the relationships of maternal depression and anxiety with neurodevelopmental outcomes of preterm infants with a gestational age of ≤32weeks, examined at a corrected age of 18 to 22months.

Study design: Cross-sectional study.

Subjects: In total, 220 preterm infants with a gestational age of ≤32weeks who were born from January 2008 to September 2011 and admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit were prospectively examined.

Outcome measures: Neurodevelopmental evaluation was performed at a corrected age of 18 to 22months by a developmental paediatrician using the Bayley Scales of Infant Development II (BSID-II). The Beck Depression Inventory and Beck Anxiety Inventory were used to assess maternal depression and anxiety at the same visit as the neurodevelopmental evaluation.

Results: The depression scores of mothers of infants with a Mental Development Index (MDI) score of <70 were significantly higher than those of mothers of infants with an MDI score of >70 (16.3±12.8 vs 8.8±7.0, p<0.001). The depression scores of mothers of infants with neurodevelopmental impairment were also significantly higher than those without neurodevelopmental impairment (12.8±10.5 vs 8.8±7.3, p=0.003). There was no relationship between the presence of cerebral palsy or a Psychomotor Developmental Index (PDI) score of <70 and the mothers' depression scores. Multiple regression analysis revealed that maternal depression and the occurrence of more than two sepsis attacks were associated with an MDI score of <70, and grade III to IV intraventricular haemorrhage was associated with neurodevelopmental impairment and a PDI score of <70.

Conclusion: Maternal depression is negatively associated with the neurodevelopment of preterm infants at a gestational age of ≤32weeks. Maternal psychological well-being should be taken into consideration during the long-term follow-up of preterm infants.

Keywords: Maternal depression; Neurodevelopment; Preterm.

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