OBJECTIVE: To identify clinical level of anxiety, dysphoria and depression symptoms of pre-term infants' mothers between two moments, during and after hospitalization in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). METHODS: Previously, mothers with psychiatric background were excluded of the study. Forty-three pre-term and very low birthweight infants' mothers were assessed through State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and Beck Depression Inventory. The assessments were done during and after hospitalization, respectively. RESULTS: In the first assessment, 44% mothers showed clinical level in one or more of the emotional symptoms, such as anxiety, dysphoria or depression. After infants' discharge, the number of mothers with clinical level of emotional symptoms decreased significantly (26%) in comparison of the first assessment (p<0.008). The anxiety-state level decreased significantly from the first to the second assessment (from 35% to 12%; p<0.006). No difference in depression and dysphoria symptoms between two assessments were found. CONCLUSION:The pre-term infants' mothers presented situational anxiety and required emotional support to cope with the infants' hospitalization.
Anxiety; Depression; Mood disorders; Infant, premature; Neonatal intensive care units
