Análisis de las reacciones psicológicas en los padres de niños ingresados en una unidad de cuidados intensivos neonatales

Resumen

Introduction The birth of a high-risk newborn (both premature and full-term) requiring admission to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) will face parents with a new and unknown reality where they will be deprived of the long-desired parent-child bond. In addition, because of the life-threatening risk associated with their child&apos;s, this situation can lead to stress, anxiety and depression symptoms in the parents. These symptoms may interfere negatively in the adaptation of parents to their child&apos;s stay in the NICU, thus making impossible an effective coping that would allow them to maintain an adequate bond and participate in their care. Likewise, it may happen that at the time of hospital discharge they do not feel able to provide the care the baby needs, playing an inadequate parent role. Not all parents suffer these reactions with equal intensity. Besides, their evolution during the newborn&apos;s hospitalization can also vary. Aims: 1. Explore the levels of stress, anxiety and depression in parents of infants admitted to a NICU. 2. Identify whether sociodemographic variables of parents, as well as clinical variables related to gestation and the newborn are related with the levels of stress, anxiety and depression exhibited by parents. 3. Determine the evolution of psychological reactions in both parents over time. Methodology A longitudinal observational descriptive study during the first 6 months of life of the newborn that was carried out in the NICU of the Hospital Virgen de la Arrixaca (Murcia). Measurements were made at four time intervals: at the time of entry in the NICU; when transferred to the Neonatology unit; prior to discharge; and at 6 months of age. Stress, anxiety and depression symptoms were assessed using the Parental Stress Scale Questionnaire: NICU (PSS: NICU), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI - II) respectively. Results The total sample consisted of 99 mothers and 94 parents, with a mean age of 34.1 and SD = 4.98 years With respect to the psychological variables evaluated, the results obtained show the presence of moderate stress (mean score in PSS: NICU = 3.54, SD = 1.32). The subscales of the questionnaire that showed higher scores were Impact on parental role and Newborn appearance and behavior. Regarding anxiety symptoms, the mean score in STAI for the state subscale is 28.88 (SD = 13.04), while for the trait subscale is 22.07 (SD = 11.53). These data indicate that parents have a high level of anxiety for state anxiety and moderate for trait anxiety. The mean score in the BDI-II questionnaire = 11.90 (SD = 8.48) indicates minimal levels of depressive symptoms. The sociodemographic variables that showed a statistically significant relationship (p <.05) with the psychological variables analyzed were gender, age, level of education and type of cohabitation of parents. On the other hand, some of the clinical variables included, such as the weeks of gestation, type of delivery, type of conception ..., also showed a statistically significant relationship. The longitudinal analysis of the depression and anxiety variables shows a significant effect of the time variable, with a progressive reduction in the psychological symptoms from the first to the last phase of evaluation, not finding gender differences. Conclusions: This study documents the psychological reactions experienced by the parents of the children admitted to these units and highlights the need to extend the care of the newborn to their parents as well, thus favoring the optimal establishment of the parent-ch