This study compared the mental health of 12 mothers who had infants with colic to 12 mothers of infants without colic. Colic was defined as infant fussing/crying of at least 2 hours/day for at least 5 out of 7 days, infant cry high-pitched and pain-sounding, and maternal report of infant inconsolability. Mental health was operationalized as scores on the Profile of Mood States and the Symptom Checklist-90R. Mothers of infants with colic had multidimensional psychological distress; they reported more bodily dysfunction, fears, disordered thinking, depression, anxiety, fatigue, hostility, impulsive thoughts and actions; and they had stronger feelings of personal inadequacy or inferiority. Implications for nursing research and practice are discussed in the context of study findings.