Author Interviews, Depression, JAMA, Mental Health Research, Pediatrics / 18.07.2016
Depression in Parents of Preterm Infants Can Persist With Ongoing Childcare Challenges
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Dr Carmen Pace MPsych (Clin Child) PhD AMACPA
Clinical Psychologist and Research Fellow
Murdoch Childrens Research Institute
The Royal Children’s Hospital
Flemington Rd Parkville, Victoria AUS
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: We know that mothers of very preterm infants (born prior to 32 weeks gestation) are at higher risk for psychological distress compared to mothers who have healthy full term infants. However, detailed longitudinal research looking at how symptoms evolve over the first weeks and months is limited, and fathers are largely neglected in the literature. We addressed these gaps by assessing symptoms of depression and anxiety in both mothers and fathers every two weeks for the first twelve weeks after birth, and again at six months.
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