[Anxiety and depression symptoms assessment in pre-term neonates' mothers during and after hospitalization in neonatal intensive care unit].
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< or =0.008). The anxiety-state level decreased significantly from the first to the second assessment (from 35% to 12%; p< or =0.006). No difference in depression and dysphoria symptoms between two assessments were found.


CONCLUSIONS
The pre-term infants' mothers presented situational anxiety and required emotional support to cope with the infants' hospitalization.
Padovani
Flávia Helena Pereira
FH
Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo.
Linhares
Maria Beatriz Martins
MB
Carvalho
Ana Emília Vita
AE
Duarte
Geraldo
G
Martinez
Francisco Eulógio
FE
D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D016387:Women's Health