CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Am J Perinatol 2024; 41(10): 1396-1408
DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-1768132
Original Article

Risk Factors for Postpartum Depression and Severe Distress among Mothers of Very Preterm Infants at NICU Discharge

1   Division of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
,
Elisabeth C. McGowan
2   Department of Pediatrics, Women and Infant's Hospital/Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island
,
Lynne M. Smith
3   Department of Pediatrics, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Los Angeles, California
,
Samantha Meltzer-Brody
4   Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
,
Brian S. Carter
5   Department of Pediatrics, Department of Medical Humanities and Bioethics, University of Missouri-Kansas City, School of Medicine, Kansas City, Missouri
,
Lynne M. Dansereau
6   Brown Center for the Study of Children at Risk, Brown Alpert Medical School and Women and Infants Hospital, Providence, Rhode Island
,
Steven Pastyrnak
7   Department of Pediatrics, Spectrum Health Helen DeVos Children's Hospital/Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, Michigan
,
Jennifer B. Helderman
8   Department of Pediatrics, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston Salem, North Carolina
,
Charles R. Neal
9   Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Kapi'olani Medical Center for Women and Children and Hawaii Pacific Medical Group, University of Hawaii John A Burns School of Medicine, Honolulu, Hawaii
,
Sheri A. DellaGrotta
6   Brown Center for the Study of Children at Risk, Brown Alpert Medical School and Women and Infants Hospital, Providence, Rhode Island
,
Thomas Michael D. O'Shea
1   Division of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
,
Barry M. Lester
10   Departments of Pediatrics, Brown Center for the Study of Children at Risk, Brown Alpert Medical School and Women and Infants Hospital, Providence, Rhode Island
11   Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Brown Center for the Study of Children at Risk, Brown Alpert Medical School and Women and Infants Hospital, Providence, Rhode Island
› Author Affiliations

Funding This study was funded by National Institutes of Health (NIH)/Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) grant no.: R01HD072267.

Abstract

Objective To identify psychological, medical, and socioenvironmental risk factors for maternal postpartum depression (PPD) and severe psychological distress (SPD) at intensive care nursery discharge among mothers of very preterm infants.

Study Design We studied 562 self-identified mothers of 641 infants born <30 weeks who were enrolled in the Neonatal Neurobehavior and Outcomes in Very Preterm Infants Study (NOVI) conducted in nine university-affiliated intensive care nurseries. Enrollment interviews collected socioenvironmental data, depression, and anxiety diagnoses prior to and during the study pregnancy. Standardized medical record reviews ascertained prenatal substance use, maternal and neonatal medical complications. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and Brief Symptom Inventory were administered at nursery discharge to screen for PPD and SPD symptoms, respectively.

Results Unadjusted analyses indicated mothers with positive screens for depression (n = 76, 13.5%) or severe distress (n = 102, 18.1%) had more prevalent prepregnancy/prenatal depression/anxiety, and their infants were born at younger gestational ages, with more prevalent bronchopulmonary dysplasia, and discharge after 40 weeks postmenstrual age. In multivariable analyses, prior depression or anxiety was associated with positive screens for PPD (risk ratio [RR]: 1.6, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.1–2.2) and severe distress (RR: 1.6, 95% CI: 1.1–2.2). Mothers of male infants had more prevalent depression risk (RR: 1.7, 95% CI: 1.1–2.4), and prenatal marijuana use was associated with severe distress risk (RR: 1.9, 95% CI: 1.1–2.9). Socioenvironmental and obstetric adversities were not significant after accounting for prior depression/anxiety, marijuana use, and infant medical complications.

Conclusion Among mothers of very preterm newborns, these multicenter findings extend others' previous work by identifying additional indicators of risk for PPD and SPD associated with a history of depression, anxiety, prenatal marijuana use, and severe neonatal illness. Findings could inform designs for continuous screening and targeted interventions for PPD and distress risk indicators from the preconception period onward.

Key Points

  • Preconceptional and prenatal screening for postpartum depression and severe distress may inform care.

  • Prior depression, anxiety, and neonatal complications predicted severe distress and depression symptoms at NICU discharge.

  • Readily identifiable risk factors warrant continuous NICU screening and targeted interventions to improve outcomes.

Authors' Contributions

All authors contributed to reviewing, revising, and approval of the final submitted manuscript, and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work. In addition: J.A.H. conceptualized and designed this manuscript, co-led the overall conceptualization, design, and funding acquisition of the NOVI Study, and led the study site teams in protocol implementation and data collection. E.S.M., L.M.S., B..S.C., and C.R.N. contributed to the conceptualization and design of the manuscript and led their respective site teams in study implementation. S.M.-B. contributed to the design of the maternal data collection protocol and the development of the manuscript. L.M.D. developed the database for this manuscript and conducted statistical analyses. T.M.D.O. and B.M.L. co-led the conceptualization and design of the NOVI study. J.B.H. and S.P. led their respective site teams in study implementation. S.A.D. worked with the study site teams on protocol implementation and designed data collection instruments.


Role of the Funder

National Institutes of Health (NIH)/Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) had no role in the design and conduct of the study or the collection, management, analysis, and interpretation of the data. NICHD project officers reviewed and approved the human subjects protections and protocol funds initially and on annual reports.


Supplementary Material



Publication History

Received: 27 October 2022

Accepted: 03 February 2023

Article published online:
18 April 2023

© 2023. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc.
333 Seventh Avenue, 18th Floor, New York, NY 10001, USA

 
  • References

  • 1 Putnam KT, Wilcox M, Robertson-Blackmore E. et al; Postpartum Depression: Action Towards Causes and Treatment (PACT) Consortium. Heterogeneity of postpartum depression: a latent class analysis. Lancet Psychiatry 2015; 2 (01) 59-67
  • 2 Meltzer-Brody S, Boschloo L, Jones I, Sullivan PF, Penninx BW. The EPDS-Lifetime: assessment of lifetime prevalence and risk factors for perinatal depression in a large cohort of depressed women. Arch Women Ment Health 2013; 16 (06) 465-473
  • 3 Field T. Prenatal depression risk factors, developmental effects and interventions: a review. J Pregnancy Child Health 2017; 4 (01) 301
  • 4 Putnick DL, Sundaram R, Bell EM. et al. Trajectories of maternal postpartum depressive symptoms. Pediatrics 2020; 146 (05) e20200857
  • 5 Gondwe KW, White-Traut R, Brandon D, Pan W, Holditch-Davis D. The role of sociodemographic factors in maternal psychological distress and mother-preterm infant interactions. Res Nurs Health 2017; 40 (06) 528-540
  • 6 Neri E, Agostini F, Salvatori P, Biasini A, Monti F. Mother-preterm infant interactions at 3 months of corrected age: influence of maternal depression, anxiety and neonatal birth weight. Front Psychol 2015; 6: 1234
  • 7 Singer LT, Fulton S, Davillier M, Koshy D, Salvator A, Baley JE. Effects of infant risk status and maternal psychological distress on maternal-infant interactions during the first year of life. J Dev Behav Pediatr 2003; 24 (04) 233-241
  • 8 Park M, Brain U, Grunau RE, Diamond A, Oberlander TF. Maternal depression trajectories from pregnancy to 3 years postpartum are associated with children's behavior and executive functions at 3 and 6 years. Arch Women Ment Health 2018; 21 (03) 353-363
  • 9 Kingston D, Kehler H, Austin M-P. et al. Trajectories of maternal depressive symptoms during pregnancy and the first 12 months postpartum and child externalizing and internalizing behavior at three years. PLoS One 2018; 13 (04) e0195365-e0195365
  • 10 Netsi E, Pearson RM, Murray L, Cooper P, Craske MG, Stein A. Association of persistent and severe postnatal depression with child outcomes. JAMA Psychiatry 2018; 75 (03) 247-253
  • 11 Pao C, Guintivano J, Santos H, Meltzer-Brody S. Postpartum depression and social support in a racially and ethnically diverse population of women. Arch Women Ment Health 2019; 22 (01) 105-114
  • 12 Meltzer-Brody S, Maegbaek ML, Medland SE, Miller WC, Sullivan P, Munk-Olsen T. Obstetrical, pregnancy and socio-economic predictors for new-onset severe postpartum psychiatric disorders in primiparous women. Psychol Med 2017; 47 (08) 1427-1441
  • 13 Grobman WA, Parker CB, Willinger M. et al; Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Nulliparous Pregnancy Outcomes Study: Monitoring Mothers-to-Be (nuMoM2b) Network*. Racial disparities in adverse pregnancy outcomes and psychosocial stress. Obstet Gynecol 2018; 131 (02) 328-335
  • 14 Murthy S, Haeusslein L, Bent S, Fitelson E, Franck LS, Mangurian C. Feasibility of universal screening for postpartum mood and anxiety disorders among caregivers of infants hospitalized in NICUs: a systematic review. J Perinatol 2021; 41 (08) 1811-1824
  • 15 Bogen DL, Fisher SD, Wisner KL. Identifying depression in neonatal intensive care unit parents: then what?. J Pediatr 2016; 179 (supplement C): 13-15
  • 16 de Paula Eduardo JAF, de Rezende MG, Menezes PR, Del-Ben CM. Preterm birth as a risk factor for postpartum depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Affect Disord 2019; 259: 392-403
  • 17 Hawes K, McGowan E, O'Donnell M, Tucker R, Vohr B. Social emotional factors increase risk of postpartum depression in mothers of preterm infants. J Pediatr 2016; 179: 61-67
  • 18 Garfield L, Holditch-Davis D, Carter CS. et al. Risk factors for postpartum depressive symptoms in low-income women with very low-birth-weight infants. Adv Neonatal Care 2015; 15 (01) E3-E8
  • 19 Helle N, Barkmann C, Bartz-Seel J. et al. Very low birth-weight as a risk factor for postpartum depression four to six weeks postbirth in mothers and fathers: cross-sectional results from a controlled multicentre cohort study. J Affect Disord 2015; 180: 154-161
  • 20 Rogers CE, Kidokoro H, Wallendorf M, Inder TE. Identifying mothers of very preterm infants at-risk for postpartum depression and anxiety before discharge. J Perinatol 2013; 33 (03) 171-176
  • 21 Pisoni C, Spairani S, Manzoni F. et al. Depressive symptoms and maternal psychological distress during early infancy: a pilot study in preterm as compared with term mother-infant dyads. J Affect Disord 2019; 257: 470-476
  • 22 Scheans P, Mischel R, Munson M, Bulaevskaya K. Postpartum mood disorders screening in the NICU. Neonatal Netw 2016; 35 (04) 240-242
  • 23 Hofheimer JA, Smith LM, McGowan EC. et al. Psychosocial and medical adversity associated with neonatal neurobehavior in infants born before 30 weeks gestation. Pediatr Res 2020; 87 (04) 721-729
  • 24 McGowan EC, Hofheimer JA, O'Shea TM. et al. Sociodemographic and medical influences on neurobehavioral patterns in preterm infants: a multi-center study. Early Hum Dev 2020; 142: 104954
  • 25 Camerota M, Graw S, Everson TM. et al. Prenatal risk factors and neonatal DNA methylation in very preterm infants. Clin Epigenetics 2021; 13 (01) 171
  • 26 Barrios YV, Maselko J, Engel SM. et al. The relationship of cumulative psychosocial adversity with antepartum depression and anxiety. Depress Anxiety 2021; 38 (10) 1034-1045
  • 27 Pace CC, Spittle AJ, Molesworth CM. et al. Evolution of depression and anxiety symptoms in parents of very preterm infants during the newborn period. JAMA Pediatr 2016; 170 (09) 863-870
  • 28 Horbar JD, Soll RF, Edwards WH. The Vermont Oxford Network: a community of practice. Clin Perinatol 2010; 37 (01) 29-47
  • 29 O'Shea TM, Allred EN, Dammann O. et al; ELGAN study Investigators. The ELGAN study of the brain and related disorders in extremely low gestational age newborns. Early Hum Dev 2009; 85 (11) 719-725
  • 30 Walden RV, Taylor SC, Hansen NI. et al; National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Neonatal Research Network. Major congenital anomalies place extremely low birth weight infants at higher risk for poor growth and developmental outcomes. Pediatrics 2007; 120 (06) e1512-e1519
  • 31 Cox JL, Holden JM, Sagovsky R. Detection of postnatal depression. Development of the 10-item Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. Br J Psychiatry 1987; 150: 782-786
  • 32 Derogatis LR. Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI): Administration, Scoring, and Procedures Manual. 4th ed. Minneapolis, MN: National Computer Systems; 1993
  • 33 Guintivano J, Sullivan PF, Stuebe AM. et al. Adverse life events, psychiatric history, and biological predictors of postpartum depression in an ethnically diverse sample of postpartum women. Psychol Med 2018; 48 (07) 1190-1200
  • 34 Wisner KL, Sit DKY, McShea MC. et al. Onset timing, thoughts of self-harm, and diagnoses in postpartum women with screen-positive depression findings. JAMA Psychiatry 2013; 70 (05) 490-498
  • 35 Matthey S, Fisher J, Rowe H. Using the Edinburgh postnatal depression scale to screen for anxiety disorders: conceptual and methodological considerations. J Affect Disord 2013; 146 (02) 224-230
  • 36 Asner-Self KK, Schreiber JB, Marotta SA. A cross-cultural analysis of the Brief Symptom Inventory-18. Cultur Divers Ethnic Minor Psychol 2006; 12 (02) 367-375
  • 37 Wiesner M, Chen V, Windle M. et al. Factor structure and psychometric properties of the Brief Symptom Inventory-18 in women: a MACS approach to testing for invariance across racial/ethnic groups. Psychol Assess 2010; 22 (04) 912-922
  • 38 Vermont-Oxford Network. . Manual of Operations (Part 2). Accessed March 24, 2023 at: https://vtoxford.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/article_attachments/360024732954/Manual_of_Operations_Part_2_v23.2.pdf
  • 39 Bassler D, Stoll BJ, Schmidt B. et al; Trial of Indomethacin Prophylaxis in Preterms Investigators. Using a count of neonatal morbidities to predict poor outcome in extremely low birth weight infants: added role of neonatal infection. Pediatrics 2009; 123 (01) 313-318
  • 40 Putnam KT, Wilcox M, Robertson-Blackmore E. et al; Postpartum Depression: Action Towards Causes and Treatment (PACT) Consortium. Clinical phenotypes of perinatal depression and time of symptom onset: analysis of data from an international consortium. Lancet Psychiatry 2017; 4 (06) 477-485
  • 41 March of Dimes. . March of Dimes Data Book for Policy Makers: Maternal, Infant, and Child Health in the United States. Washington, DC: March of Dimes; 2016
  • 42 Evans GW, Li D, Whipple SS. Cumulative risk and child development. Psychol Bull 2013; 139 (06) 1342-1396
  • 43 Zhang J, Yu KF. What's the relative risk? A method of correcting the odds ratio in cohort studies of common outcomes. JAMA 1998; 280 (19) 1690-1691
  • 44 Toledo-Corral CM, Gao L, Chavez T. et al. Role of race, ethnicity, and immigration in perceived stress and depressive symptomatology trends during pregnancy. J Immigr Minor Health 2022; 24 (03) 561-569
  • 45 Docherty A, Stoyles S, Najjar R, Woolley R. Oregon PRAMS 2012-2018: revealing racial inequity in postpartum depression. Res Nurs Health 2022; 45 (02) 163-172
  • 46 Ponting C, Chavira DA, Ramos I, Christensen W, Guardino C, Dunkel Schetter C. Postpartum depressive symptoms in low-income Latinas: cultural and contextual contributors. Cultur Divers Ethnic Minor Psychol 2020; 26 (04) 544-556
  • 47 Beck AF, Edwards EM, Horbar JD, Howell EA, McCormick MC, Pursley DM. The color of health: how racism, segregation, and inequality affect the health and well-being of preterm infants and their families. Pediatr Res 2020; 87 (02) 227-234
  • 48 Jensen EA, Dysart K, Gantz MG. et al. The diagnosis of bronchopulmonary dysplasia in very preterm infants. an evidence-based approach. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2019; 200 (06) 751-759
  • 49 Haeusslein L, Gano D, Gay CL. et al. Relationship between social support and post-discharge mental health symptoms in mothers of preterm infants. J Reprod Infant Psychol 2021; 1-15
  • 50 Pham D, Cormick G, Amyx MM. et al. Factors associated with postpartum depression in women from low socioeconomic level in Argentina: a hierarchical model approach. J Affect Disord 2018; 227: 731-738
  • 51 Young-Wolff KC, Sarovar V, Tucker LY. et al. Association of depression, anxiety, and trauma with cannabis use during pregnancy. JAMA Netw Open 2020; 3 (02) e1921333
  • 52 Ko JY, Coy KC, Haight SC. et al. Characteristics of marijuana use during pregnancy - eight states, pregnancy risk assessment monitoring system, 2017. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2020; 69 (32) 1058-1063
  • 53 Mark K, Desai A, Terplan M. Marijuana use and pregnancy: prevalence, associated characteristics, and birth outcomes. Arch Women Ment Health 2016; 19 (01) 105-111
  • 54 Osborn LA, Lauritsen KJ, Cross N. et al. Self-medication of somatic and psychiatric conditions using botanical marijuana. J Psychoactive Drugs 2015; 47 (05) 345-350
  • 55 Cohen K, Weizman A, Weinstein A. Positive and negative effects of cannabis and cannabinoids on health. Clin Pharmacol Ther 2019; 105 (05) 1139-1147
  • 56 Wisner KL, Miller ES, Tandon D. Attention to prevention-can we stop perinatal depression before it starts?. JAMA Psychiatry 2019; 76 (04) 355-356
  • 57 Lefkowitz DS, Baxt C, Evans JR. Prevalence and correlates of posttraumatic stress and postpartum depression in parents of infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). J Clin Psychol Med Settings 2010; 17 (03) 230-237
  • 58 Moreyra A, Dowtin LL, Ocampo M. et al. Implementing a standardized screening protocol for parental depression, anxiety, and PTSD symptoms in the neonatal intensive care unit. Early Hum Dev 2021; 154: 105279
  • 59 Singer LT, Fulton S, Kirchner HL. et al. Longitudinal predictors of maternal stress and coping after very low-birth-weight birth. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 2010; 164 (06) 518-524
  • 60 De Magistris A, Coni E, Puddu M, Zonza M, Fanos V. Screening of postpartum depression: comparison between mothers in the neonatal intensive care unit and in the neonatal section. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med 2010; 23 (suppl 3): 101-103
  • 61 Singer LT, Salvator A, Guo S, Collin M, Lilien L, Baley J. Maternal psychological distress and parenting stress after the birth of a very low-birth-weight infant. JAMA 1999; 281 (09) 799-805
  • 62 Melnyk BM, Feinstein NF, Alpert-Gillis L. et al. Reducing premature infants' length of stay and improving parents' mental health outcomes with the Creating Opportunities for Parent Empowerment (COPE) neonatal intensive care unit program: a randomized, controlled trial. Pediatrics 2006; 118 (05) e1414-e1427
  • 63 Pacula RL, Smart R. Medical marijuana and marijuana legalization. Annu Rev Clin Psychol 2017; 13: 397-419
  • 64 Legistatures NCoS. State Medical Cannabis Laws. Accessed March 24, 2023 at: . 2022. https://www.ncsl.org/research/health/state-medical-marijuana-laws.aspx
  • 65 ACOG. Committee Opinion No. 722: marijuana use during pregnancy and lactation. Obstet Gynecol 2017; 130 (04) e205-e209
  • 66 Stuebe AM, Kendig S, Suplee PD, D'Oria R. Consensus bundle on postpartum care basics: from birth to the comprehensive postpartum visit. Obstet Gynecol 2021; 137 (01) 33-40
  • 67 O'Connor E, Rossom RC, Henninger M, Groom HC, Burda BU. Primary care screening for and treatment of depression in pregnant and postpartum women: evidence report and systematic review for the US Preventive Services Task Force. JAMA 2016; 315 (04) 388-406
  • 68 Miller ES, Wisner KL, Gollan J, Hamade S, Gossett DR, Grobman WA. Screening and treatment after implementation of a universal perinatal depression screening program. Obstet Gynecol 2019; 134 (02) 303-309
  • 69 McKinney J, Keyser L, Clinton S, Pagliano C. ACOG Committee Opinion No. 736: optimizing postpartum care. Obstet Gynecol 2018; 132 (03) 784-785
  • 70 Ryan SA, Ammerman SD, O'Connor ME. COMMITTEE ON SUBSTANCE USE AND PREVENTION ; SECTION ON BREASTFEEDING. Marijuana use during pregnancy and breastfeeding: implications for neonatal and childhood outcomes. Pediatrics 2018; 142 (03) e20181889
  • 71 Hynan MT, Hall SL. Psychosocial program standards for NICU parents. J Perinatol 2015; 35 (suppl 1): S1-S4
  • 72 Milgrom J, Hirshler Y, Reece J, Holt C, Gemmill AW. Social support-a protective factor for depressed perinatal women?. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2019; 16 (08) 1426
  • 73 Zornberg GZ, Lyall M, Ramos GA, Herrero T, LaCoursiere DY. Antepartum edinburgh depression score: implications for postpartum care. Obstet Gynecol 2020; 135: 50S
  • 74 Garner A, Yogman M. Committee on Psychosocial Aspects of Child and Family Health, Section on Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Council on Early Childhood. Preventing childhood toxic stress: partnering with families and communities to promote relational health. Pediatrics 2021; 148 (02) e2021052582
  • 75 Martin JA, Hamilton BE, Osterman MJK, Driscoll AK. Births: final data for 2018. Natl Vital Stat Rep 2019; 68 (13) 1-47
  • 76 Delnord M, Hindori-Mohangoo AD, Smith LK. et al; Euro-Peristat Scientific Committee. Variations in very preterm birth rates in 30 high-income countries: are valid international comparisons possible using routine data?. BJOG 2017; 124 (05) 785-794
  • 77 Kar P, Tomfohr-Madsen L, Giesbrecht G, Bagshawe M, Lebel C. Alcohol and substance use in pregnancy during the COVID-19 pandemic. Drug Alcohol Depend 2021; 225: 108760
  • 78 Logue TC, Wen T, Monk C. et al. Trends in and complications associated with delivery hospitalizations with mental health condition diagnoses. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2022; 226 (03) 405.e1-405.e16
  • 79 Bérard A, Gorgui J, Tchuente V. et al. The COVID-19 pandemic impacted maternal mental health differently depending on pregnancy status and trimester of gestation. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2022; 19 (05) 2926
  • 80 Koire A, Van Horne BS, Nong YH, Cain CM, Greeley CS, Puryear L. Patterns of peripartum depression screening and detection in a large, multi-site, integrated healthcare system. Arch Women Ment Health 2022; 25 (03) 603-610