title: Increased rate of parental postpartum depression and traumatization in moderate and late preterm infants is independent of the infant's motor repertoire.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Moderately and late preterm infants represent a considerable and increasing proportion of infants cared for in neonatal departments worldwide. Parents of preterm infants are at risk of postpartal depression (PPD) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and preterm infants are at risk of developmental impairment.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to assess (1) the incidence of parental PPD and PTSD in moderate to late preterm infants in comparison to full-term infants and (2) the influence of infants' motor repertoire assessed by Prechtl's general movements and illness severity on parental PPD and PTSD.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied 60 mothers and 56 fathers of 69 preterm infants (born at 32 to 37 weeks of gestation) and 32 mothers and 29 fathers of 34 full-term infants.
  
  
  METHODS
  We assessed the incidence of parental PPD, PTSD and perceived social support as well as infants' illness severity and motor repertoire at birth, term and 3 months corrected age.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Preterm mothers and fathers had significant higher depression scores after birth compared to full-term parents (p=0.033 and 0.021). Preterm fathers also had higher traumatization scores compared to full-term fathers (p=0.007). Probable or possible PPD/PTSD was not associated with infant's illness severity or quality of motor repertoire. No differences in motor development were found between preterm and full-term infants.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Moderate to late preterm infants' parents are at increased risk for PPD irrespective of infants' motor repertoire or illness severity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neonatology, University of Cologne Children's Hospital, Cologne, Germany. Electronic address: Katrin.Mehler@uk-koeln.de.
authors.forename: Katrin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mehler
authors.affiliation: Department of Neonatology, University of Cologne Children's Hospital, Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: Annika
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mainusch
authors.affiliation: Department of Neonatology, University of Cologne Children's Hospital, Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hucklenbruch-Rother
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Statistics, Informatics and Epidemiology, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: Moritz
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hahn
authors.affiliation: Department of Neonatology, University of Cologne Children's Hospital, Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hünseler
authors.affiliation: Department of Neonatology, University of Cologne Children's Hospital, Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kribs
mesh_terms: D019052:Depression, Postpartum / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007234:Infant, Premature; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D047928:Premature Birth; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012944:Social Support; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological
keywords: Late preterm; Neurologic impairment; Postpartal depression; Posttraumatic stress disorder