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

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.