Scientists have pointed to the effectiveness of art therapy for parents
Art therapy and family-oriented care significantly reduce the level of depression and anxiety among parents whose children were transferred to the intensive care unit immediately after birth. This is reported in the journal JAMA Pediatrics.
A group of scientists led by Claire Niehaus Milligan from Cincinnati Children's Hospital conducted a meta-analysis of 160 studies involving more than 16.6 thousand parents. Experts evaluated the effectiveness of various psychological approaches to minimize distress in families facing hospitalization of infants in intensive care units.
According to the analysis, family-oriented care, in which parents become full-fledged partners in the treatment process, as well as individual psychotherapy have shown the greatest effectiveness in reducing parental stress. Scientists have found that meditation and holistic practices also have a significant impact on the emotional state of the patient's loved ones.
The researchers paid special attention to expressive therapy. Art therapy and music therapy, used together with the kangaroo method, contributed to a significant reduction in symptoms of depression and anxiety. At the same time, measures aimed at strengthening the bond between mother and baby, such as staying in the ward together, proved to be a key factor in stabilizing the mental health of parents.
According to the scientists, the results showed the need to create integrated mental health services in neonatal intensive care units.
Doctors emphasize the urgency of the problem, noting that about 40% of parents whose children are in intensive care units face serious mental disorders. This indicator is twice as high as the average level in the population during the postpartum period. According to experts, such conditions can negatively affect not only the health of adults, but also the long-term development outcomes of the child himself. In this regard, scientists are calling for the introduction of a universal examination of the mental state of parents in intensive care units.
Svetlana Pulya, a psychologist at the SM Clinic, emphasized the importance of visiting a psychologist during pregnancy in an interview with Izvestia on January 28. The specialist noted that pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period are a time of large-scale neuroplasticity, when a woman's brain is rebuilt under the influence of hormonal changes. Bullet also pointed out the importance of family support, expressed in hugs, participation in everyday life and calm communication.
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