Document Type
Article
Language
eng
Publication Date
1-2020
Publisher
Elsevier
Source Publication
Early Human Development
Source ISSN
0378-3782
Abstract
Background
Risk factors for perinatal posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among parents of an infant in the NICU have varied in previous literature. The relationships between perception of illness severity and objective measures of illness severity with PTSD are not well understood.
Aims
To determine if PTSD among parents after an infant NICU discharge can be predicted by 1) objective measures of infant illness severity or 2) perceptions of infant illness severity.
Study design
A prospective, observational study.
Subjects
Parent/infant dyads who were in the NICU for ≥14 days.
Outcome measures
Objective measures of illness severity were obtained from the electronic health record. Perceptions of illness were measured by the response to the question, “How sick is your child/patient?” on a 5-point Likert scale. The Perinatal Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Questionnaire (PPQ) was completed by parents three months after discharge.
Results
One hundred ninety-four dyads participated in the study, 86% of parents completed follow up screening. 25% of parents screened positive for PTSD. Parents perceived infants to be sick more often than hospital caregivers. In bivariate analysis many objective measures of illness severity were associated with PTSD. Parent perceptions of illness were also associated with PTSD after adjusting for objective measures of illness (OR 3.2, 95% CI 1.1–6.1, p = 0.008).
Conclusions
PTSD in parents after NICU discharge is multifactorial. Objective illness risk factors can be used to screen parents at risk. Hospital caregivers should strive to understand parents' perception of illness and improve communication to potentially decrease PTSD after discharge.
Recommended Citation
Malin, Kathryn J.; Johnson, Teresa S.; McAndrew, Sarah; Westerdahl, Jacqueline; Leuthner, Jonathan; and Lagatta, Joanne, "Infant Illness Severity and Perinatal Post-traumatic Stress Disorder after Discharge from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit" (2020). College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications. 787.
https://epublications.marquette.edu/nursing_fac/787
Comments
Accepted version. Early Human Development, Vol. 140 (January 2020). DOI. © 2020 Elsevier. Used with permission.
Kathryn J. Malin was affiliated with The University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee at the time of publication.