title: Symptoms of acute stress disorder in mothers of premature infants.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  : To determine whether significant symptoms of acute stress disorder (ASD) are present in mothers of premature infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
  
  
  METHODS
  : Forty mothers of premature infants born less than 33 weeks and admitted into NICU.
  
  
  METHODS
  : Prospective, cohort, within-subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  : Mothers completed the Stanford Acute Stress Reaction Questionnaire, Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, and the Acute Stress Disorder Interview to explore the number and severity of stress-related symptoms at 2 separate time periods, 7 to 10 days after birth, and 1 month after birth.
  
  
  RESULTS
  : Twenty-eight percent of the mothers met diagnostic criteria of ASD at 7 to 10 days after birth, and at 1 month after birth ASD symptoms persisted. The majority of the mothers described premature birth as a traumatic stressor. The most commonly met criteria were dissociation and anxiety. Significant symptoms of depression were found in 43% of mothers and persisted 1 month after birth. Rates of depression and moderate to severe symptoms of ASD were significantly related in mothers at 1 week and at 1 month after birth.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  : The premature birth experience is traumatic for mothers and may lead to various emotional responses including stress-related symptoms such as depression and/or ASD. Mothers with significant symptoms of depression and those with symptoms of stress seem to be more at risk for developing symptoms of ASD.
authors.affiliation: Stollery Children's Hospital, Northern Alberta Neonatal Program, Royal Alexandra Hospital, Edmonton, Canada. jodi.jubinville@albertahealthservices.ca
authors.forename: Jodi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jubinville
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Newburn-Cook
authors.forename: Kathleen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hegadoren
authors.forename: Thierry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lacaze-Masmonteil
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011644:Puerperal Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D040701:Stress Disorders, Traumatic, Acute / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology