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Depressive symptoms in children with chronic gastrointestinal disorders
Subhashini Jayanath1, Way Seah Lee, Karuthan Chinna
1Department of Paediatrics, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Insights
Depressive symptoms are common in children with gastrointestinal disorders. This study found 27% of children in a Malaysian pediatric gastroenterology clinic had high depressive symptoms, regardless of diagnosis.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric gastroenterology
- Child and adolescent mental health
- Clinical psychology
Background:
- Chronic illnesses in children can manifest as depressive symptoms.
- Pediatric gastroenterology clinics manage diverse gastrointestinal conditions in children.
- Early identification of mental health issues is crucial for comprehensive pediatric care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of depressive symptoms in children attending a Malaysian pediatric gastroenterology outpatient clinic.
- To investigate if depressive symptoms differ by age, gender, or specific gastrointestinal diagnosis.
- To highlight the need for mental health screening in pediatric gastrointestinal care.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study conducted over 16 months (April 2010-July 2011).
- Consecutive recruitment of patients aged 7-17 years at University Malaya Medical Centre.
- Utilized the Children's Depression Inventory (CDI) for scoring and classification of depressive symptoms.
Main Results:
- A 93% response rate from 100 children (44 boys, 56 girls).
- Major diagnoses included functional abdominal pain, inflammatory bowel disease, biliary atresia, and miscellaneous gastrointestinal conditions.
- Overall prevalence of high CDI scores (depressive symptoms) was 27.0%; 43.0% had average scores, and 30.0% had low scores. No significant differences were found across diagnoses.
Conclusions:
- Depressive symptoms are frequently observed in children within pediatric gastroenterology settings.
- Recognizing and addressing depression symptoms in pediatric patients with gastrointestinal disorders is essential.
- Integration of mental health assessments into routine gastroenterology care is recommended.
Background:
Children with chronic illness may have depressive symptoms. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of depressive symptoms among children attending a pediatric gastroenterology outpatient clinic in Malaysia, and whether it differed by age, gender and diagnosis.
Methods:
This was a cross-sectional study, with data collected over a 16 month period (April 2010-July 2011). Patients aged 7-17 years on follow up at the pediatric gastroenterology clinic at University Malaya Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, were recruited consecutively. They were classified into high, average and low scores based on responses to questions in the Children's Depression Inventory (CDI; high, T-score >55; average, T-score 45-55; low, T-score <45). Children with high scores were considered to have depressive symptoms.
Results:
The response rate was 93%. One hundred children (44 boys; 56 girls) were studied. Major diagnoses were: functional abdominal pain (n = 22), inflammatory bowel disease (n = 26), biliary atresia (n = 17) and miscellaneous gastrointestinal conditions (n = 35). The overall prevalence of high CDI for depressive symptoms was 27.0%, while 43.0% and 30.0% had average and low scores, respectively. There were no significant differences in the prevalence of high scores among children with different diagnoses.
Conclusions:
Depressive symptoms were common among children attending a pediatric gastroenterology clinic. It is important to recognize symptoms of depression in children with gastrointestinal disorders.
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