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Parental Distress in Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Diseases: Associations With Time From Diagnosis, Disease Activity,
Kevin T Cesa1, Catherine A Cunningham2, Robert B Noll3
1Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.
Insights
Parents raising children with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) show resilience to distress. Routine screening for anxiety in caregivers is recommended, especially when IBD is active.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric gastroenterology
- Psychological distress in caregivers
- Chronic illness management
Background:
- Limited research exists on caregiver distress in pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
- Understanding parental psychological well-being is crucial for comprehensive IBD care.
- Caregiver distress can impact family functioning and patient outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess anxiety, depression, and PTSD symptoms in parents of children with IBD.
- To explore associations between parental distress and IBD disease severity, time since diagnosis, and demographics.
- To evaluate parental resilience in the context of pediatric IBD.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study design involving parents of children aged 2-17 with IBD.
- Two cohorts: recently diagnosed (<6 months) and established diagnosis (>1 year).
- Validated questionnaires for parental anxiety, depression, and PTSD; child IBD symptom surveys.
Main Results:
- Most parents reported distress symptoms within normal ranges.
- 20% anxiety, 13% depression, and 8% PTSD symptoms were moderate-to-severe.
- Anxiety and PTSD symptoms correlated significantly with active IBD in children.
Conclusions:
- Parents of children with IBD demonstrate significant resilience to psychological distress.
- Routine screening for caregiver anxiety during annual pediatric IBD visits is advisable.
- Early identification and support can mitigate potential distress in IBD caregivers.
Background:
There are limited studies examining caregiver distress when raising a child with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence of symptoms of distress (anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder [PTSD]) among parents with children with IBD and associations with disease severity, time from diagnosis, and demographic factors.
Methods:
We conducted a cross-sectional study with parents of children (2-17 years) diagnosed with IBD. There were 2 cohorts: (1) recently diagnosed cohort (<6 months from diagnosis); (2) established diagnosis cohort (>1 year from diagnosis). Parents completed measures of anxiety, depression, and PTSD, while children completed surveys on the symptoms of their IBD.
Results:
Fifty-two parents in the recently diagnosed cohort and 103 parents in the established diagnosis cohort completed surveys. For the entire cohort of parents, we found the mean scores on all measures of distress were within the normal ranges with 20%, 13%, and 8% of parents reporting moderate-to-severe symptoms of anxiety, depression, and PTSD, respectively. Symptoms of anxiety and depression were not significantly associated with time from diagnosis; symptoms of anxiety and PTSD were significantly associated with patients' IBD clinical activity.
Conclusions:
Parents with children with IBD are remarkably resilient to distress even soon after their child's diagnosis. Despite considerable resilience, routine brief caregiver screening for symptoms of anxiety during annual visits seems reasonable and feasible.
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