https://aub.ie/MilitaryREACH-Anchan2021

Anchan, J., Jones, S., Aden, J., Ditch, S., Fagiana, A., Blauvelt, D., ... & Carr, N. (2021). A different kind of battle: The effects of NICU admission on military parent mental health. Journal of Perinatology, 41, 2038 - 2047. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41372-021-00994-y

This study examined factors relating to parental mental health within two weeks of an infant’s neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission (i.e., baseline) and four to eight weeks after the infant’s discharge from the NICU (i.e., follow-up) among 106 military parents. Symptoms of acute stress disorder (ASD) and depressive symptoms were the focus at baseline, and symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depressive symptoms were the focus at follow-up. Additional factors, such as parents’ personal history of mental health disorders (e.g., PTSD, anxiety), the severity of the infant’s illness, demographics (i.e., age, race, ethnicity, education, income), and military characteristics (e.g., rank, active-duty status, branch), were also considered. Prior parental mental health disorders and severity of the infant’s illness were associated with increased likelihood of mental health disorders at follow-up.

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41372-021-00994-y

Parents

Air Force
Army
Coast Guard
Multiple branches
Navy

Active Duty

Active duty service member
Parent of a service member or veteran

Adulthood (18 yrs & older)
Young adulthood (18 - 29 yrs)
Thirties (30 - 39 yrs)
Middle age (40 - 64 yrs)

Longitudinal Study
Quantitative Study

Anchan, Joshua, Jones, Shallimar, Aden, Jay, Ditch, Sarah, Fagiana, Angela, Blauvelt, Donia, Cristina, Maria, Carr, Nicholas

Objective To determine the incidence of mental health symptoms in military families after prolonged NICU admission. Study design Prospective cohort study of military-affiliated NICU parents participating in serial electronic surveys, which included validated screening tools for acute stress (ASD), post-traumatic stress (PTSD), and depression disorders. Results Among 106 military parents surveyed after NICU admission, 24.5% screened positive for ASD and 28.3% for depression. 77 (72.6%) parents continued participation beyond discharge, with 7.8% screening positive for PTSD and 15.6% for late depression. Positive ASD correlated with later symptoms of PTSD (OR 8.4 [2.4–30]) and early depression with both PTSD symptoms (OR 5.7 [1.7–18.8]) and late depression (OR 8.4 [2.4–30]) after discharge. Secondary analysis determined these findings were independent of deployment and other military related factors. Conclusion This study highlights the potential mental health burden experienced by military-affiliated NICU parents. Early ASD and depression screening may identify parents at risk for mental health symptoms after discharge.

Nature Portfolio

Article
REACH Publication

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