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Parental stress in a sample of children with epilepsy
Francesca Felicia Operto1, Roberta Mazza1, Grazia Maria Giovanna Pastorino2
1Child Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neuroscience and Sense Organs, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Bari, Italy.
Insights
Parental stress is high at epilepsy diagnosis and remains elevated even after one year, particularly in children with drug-resistant epilepsy. Stress levels decreased for fathers in the less severe epilepsy group but remained in the pathological range for parents of children with drug-resistant epilepsy.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neurology
- Childhood Epilepsy
- Parental Mental Health
Background:
- Epilepsy diagnosis significantly impacts parental well-being.
- Understanding parental stress is crucial for supporting families affected by childhood epilepsy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate maternal and paternal stress levels in children with different epilepsy types.
- To compare stress at diagnosis versus one year of follow-up.
Main Methods:
- 85 children (2-14 years) with epilepsy were divided into two groups: typical (absence, focal) and drug-resistant.
- Parental stress was assessed using the Parental Stress Index-Short Form at diagnosis (Time 0) and after 1 year (Time 1).
Main Results:
- High parental stress was observed in both groups at diagnosis.
- In typical epilepsy, paternal stress decreased to normal levels, while maternal stress remained unchanged.
- In drug-resistant epilepsy, parental stress reduced but remained in the pathological range after one year.
Conclusions:
- Epilepsy diagnosis elevates parental stress irrespective of severity.
- Parental stress persists even after a year of follow-up, especially in drug-resistant cases.
- Potential contributing factors include feelings of inadequacy and concerns about the child's safety and prognosis.
Objective:
To assess maternal and paternal stress in two groups of children with different types of epilepsy, at the time of diagnosis and after one year of follow-up.
Methods:
We investigated parental stress in a sample of 85 children aged between 2 and 14 years, divided into two groups based on the diagnosis: Group 1 (50 patients) with childhood absence epilepsy or idiopathic focal epilepsy with rolandic discharges and Group 2 (35 patients) with different forms of drug-resistant epilepsy. Parents independently completed the Parental Stress Index-Short Form at Time 0, when they received the diagnosis and patients started therapy, and at Time 1, after 1 year of follow-up.
Results:
We found high levels of stress in both mothers and fathers at Time 0, without statistically significant differences between the two groups. At Time 1, stress values were unchanged in Group 1 mothers; conversely, the levels of stress in Group 1 fathers reduced, with average values that all fell within the "normal range." In Group 2, stress levels were reduced both in mothers and in fathers at Time 1, compared to Time 0, but equally fell into the "pathological range," for both parents.
Conclusion:
In our study, the diagnosis of the epilepsy itself tended to increase parental stress, apparently regardless of the severity of the epilepsy; even after a period of follow-up, when the epilepsy was better controlled, overall parental stress remained high. It might have been related to feelings of parental inadequacy or concerns about issues such as safety or the outcome for the child.
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