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

Katy Kohleis1, Markus Storck2, Sibylle Geissler-Preuss3

  • 1Kinder- und Jugendambulanz/Sozialpädiatrisches Zentrum Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf, Sozialpädiatrisches Zentrum, Berlin.

Klinische Padiatrie
|September 5, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Mental health problems are common in children with cerebral palsy (CP) and spina bifida (SB). These issues correlate with factors like cognitive and motor impairment, and social participation, highlighting the need for early intervention.

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.
Abstract

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