[Post-traumatic stress disorder in premature newborns]. / Trastorno por estrés postraumático en nacidos prematuros.

INTRODUCTION: Preterm newborns are physiologically immature and vulnerable. Following birth, they must face a battery of adverse stimuli, radically different from the warmth of the mother's womb. The aims of this study were to evaluate the prevalence of emotional alterations in the neonate and to examine the influence of physical contact with the mother during the infant's stay in the Neonatal-Intensive-Care-Unit (NICU). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Prospective follow-up study of a group of 15 neonates admitted to a NICU, together with a control-group of 15 full-term neonates, not admitted to a NICU. RESULTS: The number of responses considered to be pathological observed among neonates, in the mothers' arms was 0.6-per-hour and in the incubator/cot, 20.6, (p < 0.001). There were statistically significant differences as regards the presence of pathological reactions to external stimuli, which tended to produce a repeated sensation of living out the traumatic event (RR = 3.3). CONCLUSIONS: Beyond a doubt, many factors should be taken into consideration in order to prevent the development of PTSD, and research such as the present leads us to believe that studies should be made of possible modifications to the environmental surroundings of the NICU.

Trastorno por estrés postraumático en nacidos prematuros / Post-traumatic stress disorder in premature newborns

Introducción: El recién nacido prematuro es fisiológicamente inmaduro y vulnerable. Tras el alumbramiento, se enfrenta a un contingente de estímulos adversos, radicalmente opuestos a la calidez del útero materno. En este estudio se pretende evaluar la prevalencia de las alteraciones emocionales del recién nacido y la influencia del contacto físico con la madre durante el ingreso en una unidad de cuidados intensivos neonatales (UCIN). Pacientes y métodos: Estudio de seguimiento prospectivo de una cohorte de recién nacidos ingresados en una UCIN, con grupo de comparación de recién nacidos a término, no ingresados. Resultados: Comparando el número de respuestas consideradas patológicas dentro de la incubadora/cuna y fuera de la misma en brazos de la madre, se hallaron los siguientes promedios: en brazos de la madre, 0,6/h, y en la incubadora/ cuna, 20,6/h (p < 0,001). Se encontraron diferencias estadísticamente significativas respecto a la presencia de reacciones patológicas a estímulos externos que favorecían la reexperimentación del acontecimiento traumático (riesgo relativo: 3,3). Conclusiones: Sin duda, son muchos los factores que deben considerarse en la prevención del desarrollo de trastorno por estrés postraumático, y son investigaciones de esta índole las que nos impulsan a pensar en la necesidad de realizar estudios sobre modificaciones ambientales en la UCIN

Introduction: Preterm neborns are physiologically immature and vulnerable. Following birth, they must face a battery of adverse stimuli, radically different from the warmth of the mother's womb. The aims of this study were to evaluate the prevalence of emotional alterations in the neonate and to examine the influence of physical contact with the mother during the infant's stay in the Neonatal-Intensive-Care-Unit (NICU). Patients and methods: Prospective follow-up study of a group of 15 neonates admitted to a NICU, together with a control-group of 15 full-term neonates, not admitted to a NICU. Results: The number of responses considered to be pathological observed among neonates, in the mothers' arms was 0.6-per-hour and in the incubator/cot, 20.6, (p < 0.001). There were statistically significant differences as regards the presence of pathological reactions to external stimuli, which tended to produce a repeated sensation of living out the traumatic event (RR 3.3). Conclusions: Beyond a doubt, many factors should be taken into consideration in order to prevent the development of PTSD, and research such as the present leads us to believe that studies should be made of possible modifications to the environmental surroundings of the NICU