title: Psychiatric support for mothers in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study describes mental health treatment and follow-up for mothers of infants in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were collected retrospectively about 204 mothers referred to a Level 3 NICU Psychiatric Consult Liaison Team over 2 years. This included medical, demographic and treatment information about both mother and infant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most mothers (69%) were referred within a week of birth, and 100 (49%) of the referred mothers received a psychiatric diagnosis. Psychiatric follow-up was recommended for 13% on leaving the NICU and additional follow-up referrals were made for another 16%. Mothers with more than one initial reason for referral, a past psychiatric history, receiving therapeutic services, receiving a psychiatric diagnosis and receiving pharmacotherapy were all significantly more likely to have follow-up recommended on discharge.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Approximately one-sixth of mothers in the NICU were referred, a large proportion received a psychiatric diagnosis, and over a quarter required follow-up after discharge, indicating the importance of the service.
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Penny
authors.affiliation: Psychological Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Friedman
authors.affiliation: Starship Hospital, Auckland District Health Board, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Halstead
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; D008297:Male; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies