THE EFFECT OF PRETERM BIRTH ON MATERNAL MENTAL ILLNESS

Comprehensive article on preterm birth as an independent risk factor for the development of maternal mental illness. Methodology: Review of published literature on the topic using the PubMed database. Results: Perinatal mental health significantly affects the lives of mothers and the development of children, making it a broader societal issue. A distinct high-risk group, where deterioration of mental health can be expected, consists of women giving birth to Very Low Birth Weight <32+0 weeks gestation and Extremely Low Birth Weight <28+0 weeks gestation premature infants. Conclusion: Among the most common mental disorders during this period are postpartum depression (PPD) and anxiety disorder (AD). The aim is to summarize current knowledge on the interaction between preterm birth and the development of mental disorders and emphasize the connection between perinatal and mental health care.