Effectiveness of psychosocial interventions for parents with preterm infants: a commentary on a systematic review

Parents of preterm infants (born before 37 weeks of gestation) who require neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission are at increased risk for psychological problems such as anxiety, trauma, stress and depression. Psychosocial interventions delivered to parents in either hospital or community settings may help to reduce the symptoms of psychological distress and improve psychological wellbeing. This commentary summarises and critically appraises a recent systematic review that investigated the effect of psychosocial interventions, delivered in any setting to parents of preterm infants on the outcomes of stress, depression, anxiety, paediatric medical traumatic stress and social support.