The Course of Depression in Mothers of Premature Infants in Hospital and at Home

The risk of continuing depression in mothers of very premature infants after discharge has not been studied in any depth. This study compared reports of maternal depressive symptomatology at one month after infant birth (Phase 1) and three months following infant hospital discharge (Phase 2). Fifty-two mothers completed the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale at these two points in time. Results indicate that the percentage of mothers who reported high levels of depressive symptoms significantly decreased between Phase 1 and Phase 2. Logistic regression analysis indicated that depression scores at Phase 1 and maternal stress at Phase 2 were important factors in explaining depression scores at Phase 2. BACKGROUND