Background: Expectant mothers at high risk for preterm labor admitted to the Mother and Child Health Centers (MCH) often have psychological problems and mood disturbances. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effects of an interview by health professionals on their mood status.
Methods: Participants consisted of 52 women admitted to the MCH of Kansai Medical University (KMU) hospital and who had delivered between December 2006 and September 2007. Interview sessions by health professionals consisting of a neonatologist and a clinical psychologist, termed 'KMU baby doctor-team interview', were held once a week. During the interview the neonatologist discussed the physiology of preterm infants and treatment for the possible complications while the clinical psychologist listened to the expectant mothers talk about their anxieties or complaints and responded to their requests as much as possible. To investigate their mood status objectively, the participants were asked to complete the Japanese version of the Profile of Mood States (POMS) before and after the first session.
Results: On admission, more than 20% of participants ranging from 19 to 42 years of age had mood disturbances in Tension-Anxiety, Depression-Dejection, and Vigor categorized by POMS. The average score for Depression-Dejection, however, significantly improved after the first interview sessions.
Conclusions: Mood disturbances were observed in a considerable number of expectant mothers at high risk for preterm labor. Interviews by health professionals consisting of a neonatologist and a clinical psychologist may alter their mood status.