FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:Pam Barber, Children's Hospital of Columbus, 614-722-4598, [email protected]Amy Nance, Children's Hospital of Columbus, 614-722-4592, [email protected]
For Release April 30, 2001
CHILDREN'S RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF COLUMBUS RELEASES FINDINGS
ON FIRST NATIONALLY REPRESENTATIVE STUDY ON DEPRESSION
IN MOTHERS OF LOW BIRTH WEIGHT CHILDREN
Study Shows these Mothers at Increased Risk of Depressive Symptoms
BALTIMORE, APRIL 30, 2001 --- In the first nationally representative study of its kind, researchers have found that mothers of low birth weight (LBW) children are at increased risk of depressive symptoms compared with mothers of normal birth weight (NBW) children. The study also concluded that while mothers whose children receive Medicaid are at increased risk for chronic depression, mothers whose children do not receive Medicaid are at increased risk of acute depressive symptoms associated with a low birth weight child. Researcher Diane L. Langkamp, M.D., M.P.H., of the Children's Research Institute, located on the campus of Columbus Children's Hospital, presented the findings Monday, April 30 at the 2001 Pediatric Academic Societies' annual meeting.
"While our research found that mothers of low birth weight children are more likely to have depressive symptoms, it's interesting to note that the mother's socioeconomic status impacts the type of depression she experiences--either chronic or acute," explained Dr. Langkamp.
"For the first time, we have crossed geographic, socioeconomic and racial barriers by analyzing a nationally representative sample," added Dr. Langkamp. "Compared to previous studies, these findings are much more compelling, due to our study of a broader spectrum of children born at less than 5 ¸ pounds. We also studied healthier children, not just those that were in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU)."
The study analyzed data from the 1988 National Maternal and Infant Health Survey and the 1991 Longitudinal Follow-up Survey, in which 8,285 women participated. An established clinical depression scale was used to evaluate the mothers.
Dr. Langkamp has applied for a grant at the National Institute of Mental Health to support a more detailed analysis of the same data set, examining how depression among the mothers of LBW children affects the children in the long-term. Maternal depression is often associated with poorer child outcomes including more problem-oriented health care visits, poorer cognitive and language development and more behavior problems.
Columbus Children's Hospital ranks among the top 10 in NIH research awards and grants to freestanding children's hospitals in the country. With nearly 500,000 patient visits each year, Children's Hospital is a 107-year-old pediatric healthcare network treating newborns through age 21. In 2000, the Children's Research Institute conducted more than 90 research projects. Pediatric Clinical Trials International (PCTI), a site management organization affiliated with the hospital, also coordinated 43 clinical trials. In addition to having one of the largest ambulatory programs in the country, Children's offers specialty programs and services, including more than 18 support groups. Each year, more than 75,000 consumers receive health and wellness education and 2,500 students from 50 institutions and 500 residents receive training at Children's. More information on Children's Hospital of Columbus is available by calling (614) 722-KIDS (5437) or through the hospital's Web site at http://www.childrenscolumbus.org.
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