Is very low infant birth weight a predictor for a five-year course of depression in parents? A latent growth curve model

Abstract

BackgroundA very low birth weight (VLBW) is considered as a significant risk factor for early-onset developmental problems in infants, but is also discussed as a potential risk factor for the development of depressive symptoms in affected parents. MethodsIn this study, the 5-year courses of maternal and paternal depression with VLBW and term born infants (n = 250 families) are modeled and predicted by factors existing at the time of birth. ResultsThe dyadic trajectories of depression could be best described by five classes (I no depression, II minor maternal depression, III increasing dyadic depression, IV significant maternal depression, V highly depressed mothers). VLBW was a significant predictor for the course of parental depression – even under control of preexisting psychiatric disorders and other confounders. Interaction effects and a dose-response relationship were not existent. LimitationsClass IV and V had to be merged for the prediction analysis, a missing bias could not be ruled out, and families with a low birth weight (between 2500 and 1500g) were not included. ConclusionsThe results are well in line with what is known from studies so far, suggesting that maternal and paternal trajectories of depression show distinctable patterns which are associated with a VLBW. An early screening of mothers and fathers of a VLBW infant seems reasonable to prevent the development of a depression in parents and further difficulties for the child.