Does maternal psychological distress affect neurodevelopmental outcomes of preterm infants at a gestational age of ≤32weeks.

•Increased survival rates of extremely preterm infants brought along important concerns about their motor, cognitive and behavioural outcomes.•It is known that maternal depression may adversely affect the neurodevelopment of the infants but the data about effects of maternal psychological distress on child’s developmental milestones is controversial and little is known about the effects on neurodevelopment of preterm infants.•Maternal depression adversely affects the neurodevelopment in preterm infants with ≤ 32 weeks gestational age. Thus, psychological well-being of the mother is an important issue in long term follow-up of preterm infants.