Biomedical subjects

H Hiscock

Publications and source records attributed to H Hiscock.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Prevention of mental health problems: rationale for a universal approach.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Mental health problems are a public health issue affecting as many as 20% of children in modern communities. Risk factors for externalising and internalising problems can occur in infancy. Infants at high risk live in stressed families with parent mental health problems, substance misuse, relationship conflict, social isolation, financial problems or infant temperamental difficulty. Although current prevention programmes target services to high-risk groups, targeting can stigmatise families and miss many children in need. The addition of universal prevention programmes for all families could address these concerns. This survey assessed the prevalence of infants at risk attending a primary care service as a delivery point for universal prevention. DESIGN: Survey of mothers of 6-month-old infants attending well-child clinics across six government areas of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, between August and September 2004. A brief survey measured sociodemographic characteristics and the following family risks: maternal depression, anxiety, stress, substance misuse, violence at home, social isolation and infant temperamental difficulty. RESULTS: The survey was completed by 733 mothers, representing 69% of infant births presented to the primary care service. Of these, 39% of infants were classified as at risk for developing mental health problems. The percentage of infants classified as at risk was not markedly dissimilar across socioeconomic levels (low, 42%; middle, 40%; high, 35%). CONCLUSIONS: A substantial number of infants attending routine universal primary care are at risk of developing mental health problems. This primary care setting could provide an ideal platform for preventing early externalising and internalising problems via a universally offered, evidence-based parenting programme.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2002

Randomised controlled trial of behavioural infant sleep intervention to improve infant sleep and maternal mood.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effect of a behavioural sleep intervention with written information about normal sleep on infant sleep problems and maternal depression. DESIGN: Randomised controlled trial. SETTING: Well child clinics, Melbourne, Australia. PARTICIPANTS: 156 mothers of infants aged 6-12 months with severe sleep problems according to the parents. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Maternal report of infant sleep problem; scores on Edinburgh postnatal depression scale at two and four months. INTERVENTION: Discussion on behavioural infant sleep intervention (controlled crying) delivered over three consultations. RESULTS: At two months more sleep problems had resolved in the intervention group than in the control group (53/76 v 36/76, P=0.005). Overall depression scores fell further in the intervention group than in the control group (mean change -3.7, 95% confidence interval -4.7 to -2.7, v -2.5, -1.7 to -3.4, P=0.06). For the subgroup of mothers with depression scores of 10 and over more sleep problems had resolved in the intervention group than in the control group (26/33 v 13/33, P=0.001). In this subgroup depression scores also fell further for intervention mothers than control mothers at two months (-6.0, -7.5 to -4.0, v -3.7, -4.9 to -2.6, P=0.01) and at four months (-6.5, -7.9 to 5.1 v -4.2, -5.9 to -2.5, P=0.04). By four months, changes in sleep problems and depression scores were similar. CONCLUSIONS: Behavioural intervention significantly reduces infant sleep problems at two but not four months. Maternal report of symptoms of depression decreased significantly at two months, and this was sustained at four months for mothers with high depression scores.

Adult↗

PubMed2001

Infant sleep problems and postnatal depression: a community-based study.

OBJECTIVES: To describe infant sleep patterns and investigate relationships between infant sleep problems and maternal well-being in the community setting. DESIGN: Cross-sectional community survey. Setting. Maternal and Child Health Centers in 3 middle-class local government areas in Melbourne, Australia. PARTICIPANTS: Mothers of infants 6 to 12 months of age. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Maternal well-being (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale) and infant sleep problems (standardized maternal questionnaire). RESULTS: The survey was completed by 738 mothers (94% response rate), of whom 46% reported their infant's sleep as a problem. In the univariate analyses, sleep patterns characterizing a sleep problem included the infant sleeping in the parent's bed, being nursed to sleep, taking longer to fall asleep, waking more often and for longer periods overnight, and taking shorter naps. The same sleep patterns were associated with high depression scores and tended to increase as depression scores increased. Because of positive skew, the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Score was analyzed in 3 categories (<10, 10-12, and >12) using validated cutoff scores from community and clinical studies. Fifteen percent of mothers scored above 12 on the depression scale, indicating probable clinical depression, and 18% scored between 10 and 12, indicating possible clinical depression. After adjusting for potential confounders and factors significant in the univariate analyses, maternal report of an infant sleep problem remained a significant predictor of a depression score >12 (odds ratio: 2.13; 95% confidence interval: 1.27,3.56) and >10 (odds ratio: 2.88; 95% confidence interval: 1.93,4.31). However, mothers reporting good sleep quality, despite an infant sleep problem, were not more likely to suffer depression. CONCLUSIONS: Maternal report of infant sleep problems and depression symptoms are common in middle-class Australian communities. There is a strong association between the 2, even when known depression risk factors are taken into account. Maternal report of good sleep quality attenuates this relationship. Appropriate anticipatory guidance addressing infant sleep could potentially decrease maternal report of depressive symptoms.

Adult↗