title: Post-traumatic stress symptoms in mothers of very low birth weight infants 2-3 years post-partum.
abstract: We examined symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in mothers of very low birth weight (VLBW) infants 2-3 years post-partum, compared with mothers of term, normal weight infants. Mothers were asked to report current symptoms relating specifically to the birth of their infant using The Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R). Mothers of VLBW infants recorded significantly higher levels of PTSD symptoms overall (median scores: VLBW 25 [range 2-82], versus controls: 0 [range 0-5], P < 0.001), and in all sub-categories (p < 0.001). These findings suggest that mothers of VLBW infants have a relatively high prevalence of symptoms of PTSD at 2-3 years postnatal.
authors.affiliation: Neonatal Unit, Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, Norwich, UK. s.ahlund@doctors.org.uk
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ahlund
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Clarke
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hill
authors.forename: Nandu K S
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Thalange