A comprehensive review suggests that targeted psychological and family-centred approaches within neonatal intensive care units can significantly reduce anxiety, stress, and depression among parents, highlighting the importance of early, inclusive support for families of medically complex newborns.
Parents of babies treated in a neonatal intensive care unit often leave with more than memories of alarms, incubators and long hospital days. A review led by Claire E. Niehaus Milligan, a paediatric psychologist at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Centre, suggests that targeted support inside the hospital can reduce anxiety, stress and depression for mothers and fathers navigating the NICU experience.
Writing in Healio, Niehaus Milligan said the work grew out of her own experience helping families with medically complex newborns and a desire to bring together evidence on what actually helps. Her team reviewed studies published from 2010 to 2024 and found that psychotherapy had the clearest effect on parents’ mental health, with other approaches also showing benefit depending on the symptom being addressed.
The analysis identified 160 studies involving 16,639 parents, with a mean age of 30.2 years and mothers making up 93.5% of participants. According to the published review, bonding measures such as skin-to-skin contact were associated with lower anxiety, while family-centred care and parent education were linked to less anxiety and stress. Expressive therapies, including art and music therapy, were tied to lower depression, and mindfulness-style approaches such as meditation showed promise for stress reduction.
The findings fit with earlier research on NICU mental health. A separate review published in the journal Children found that mindfulness and relaxation-based interventions may ease anxiety and may also help with depression, although study quality and inconsistent participation limited certainty. Another meta-analysis found that combined interventions could reduce maternal depressive symptoms, with the strongest evidence for cognitive behavioural therapy, but not all studies showed the same effect on anxiety.
Stanford Medicine Children’s Health, among other centres, now offers mental health services for NICU parents from diagnosis through discharge, reflecting a growing recognition that this support has to start early. Niehaus Milligan said fathers are often overlooked despite needing help as well, and she called for more inclusive updates, support groups and tailored care for non-birthing parents.
She also pointed to practical barriers that can keep families from using these services, including insurance problems, work schedules, childcare for siblings and the difficulty of finding specialists trained to work in the NICU environment. Even so, she said small changes such as inviting parents into rounds, explaining care clearly and listening closely to their concerns can make a meaningful difference, especially when paired with dedicated mental health staff.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
