[Risk Factors for Mental Health Problems in Children with Cerebral Palsy and Spina Bifida]

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Health
• Neurodevelopmental Disorders
• Mental Health Research

Background:

• Children with cerebral palsy (CP) and spina bifida (SB) face elevated risks for mental health challenges.
• Understanding the interplay between disease-specific and psychosocial factors is crucial for addressing these issues.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the correlation between disease-specific and psychosocial risk factors and mental health problems in children with CP and SB.
• To identify characteristic mental health issues prevalent in these pediatric populations.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 271 children with CP and 84 with SB (aged 3-17) across 15 centers.
• Utilized the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) for mental health assessment.
• Collected data on social participation, parental education/profession, cognitive (IQ), and motor impairment.

Main Results:

• Abnormal mental health scores were observed in 30.2% of CP and 18.1% of SB cases, significantly higher than the norm (10.0%).
• Externalizing problems showed moderate correlation with cognitive and motor impairment; emotional problems correlated with participation.
• These mental health issues persisted even after controlling for IQ, with weak correlations to age and gender.

Conclusions:

• Mental health problems are frequent in children and youth with CP and SB.
• Key correlating factors include IQ, motor impairment, age, gender, and social participation.
• Emphasizes the need for early recognition, enhanced participation opportunities, and strengthened psychotherapeutic support.