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Psychosocial outcomes for children with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease over time and compared with obese controls

Nanda Kerkar1, Christine D'Urso, Kelsey Van Nostrand

  • 1Division of Pediatric Hepatology and Recanati Miller Transplant Institute, Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York 10029, USA. nanda.kerkar@mountsinai.org

Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition
|August 29, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Children with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) experience more depression and lower self-esteem than obese peers. Standard care did not improve these psychosocial outcomes or quality of life.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Gastroenterology
  • Hepatology
  • Child Psychology

Background:

  • Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) significantly impacts children's quality of life (QOL), comparable to other chronic conditions.
  • Psychosocial well-being, including depression and self-esteem, is a critical concern in pediatric NAFLD.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the association between NAFLD and psychosocial outcomes like QOL and depression.
  • To compare psychosocial outcomes in children with NAFLD versus obese children without NAFLD.
  • To evaluate the longitudinal effectiveness of standard care for NAFLD in improving weight and psychosocial health.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort of children aged 8-18 with NAFLD and a control group of obese children without NAFLD were recruited.
  • Psychosocial assessments included the Children's Depression Inventory (CDI), Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL), and Body-Esteem Scale for Adolescents and Adults (BESAA).
  • NAFLD patients underwent follow-up assessments after at least 6 months to evaluate changes in QOL, depression, and self-esteem.

Main Results:

  • Children with NAFLD exhibited significantly higher depression scores (CDI) and worse body-esteem (BESAA) compared to obese controls.
  • No significant differences in QOL (PedsQL) were observed between the NAFLD and obese control groups.
  • Standard care did not lead to improvements in QOL or depression scores in the NAFLD group at follow-up, although changes in CDI scores correlated with BMI changes.

Conclusions:

  • Pediatric NAFLD is associated with elevated depression and diminished self-esteem.
  • Current standard care for pediatric NAFLD is insufficient to improve psychosocial outcomes.
  • Further research with larger longitudinal studies and targeted interventions is necessary to address the psychosocial burden of NAFLD in children.
Abstract

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