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Posttraumatic stress disorder in parents of children with chronic illnesses: a meta-analysis

Mariana Cabizuca1, Carla Marques-Portella, Mauro V Mendlowicz

  • 1Institute of Psychiatry, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil. mariana.cabizuca@gmail.com

Health Psychology : Official Journal of the Division of Health Psychology, American Psychological Association
|May 20, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) affects nearly 20% of parents caring for children with chronic illnesses. Early assessment and treatment are crucial for parental well-being and effective caregiving.

Area of Science:

  • Child Health
  • Psychiatry
  • Parental Mental Health

Background:

  • Parental mental health is significantly impacted by a child's chronic illness.
  • Children's chronic conditions and invasive procedures can be traumatic for parents.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in parents of children with chronic illnesses.
  • To assess the increased risk of PTSD in these parents compared to those with healthy children.

Main Methods:

  • A systematic review of 16 studies was conducted across major scientific databases.
  • Meta-analysis and meta-regression were used to pool prevalence data and identify sources of heterogeneity.

Main Results:

  • Pooled PTSD prevalence was 19.6% for mothers, 11.6% for fathers, and 22.8% for parents overall.
  • Parents of children with chronic illnesses had a 4.2 times higher risk of PTSD compared to parents of healthy children.

Conclusions:

  • High PTSD rates underscore the need for timely screening and intervention for parents of chronically ill children.
  • Addressing parental PTSD is vital for mitigating negative outcomes and maintaining caregiving capacity.
Abstract

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