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Pediatric Medical Traumatic Stress in Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Pancreatitis, and Cystic Fibrosis
Addison A Cuneo1, Maisam Abu-El-Haija2,3, Meghan L Marsac4
1From the Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA.
Insights
Pediatric medical traumatic stress (PMTS) affects many children with chronic gastrointestinal diseases, linked to illness severity and parental PTSD. This can lead to school absence and reduced quality of life.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Psychology
- Gastroenterology
- Trauma Studies
Background:
- Pediatric medical traumatic stress (PMTS) symptoms arising from medical experiences are understudied in children with chronic gastrointestinal diseases.
- Conditions like inflammatory bowel disease, chronic pancreatitis, and cystic fibrosis present unique challenges for pediatric patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To estimate the prevalence of medical potentially traumatic events (PTEs) and PMTS in children and adolescents with chronic gastrointestinal diseases.
- To explore potential risk factors associated with PMTS in this population.
- To investigate potential consequences of PMTS on affected children and their families.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study design was employed.
- Validated, self-report measures were utilized to assess PTEs and PMTS.
- Descriptive statistics and regression analyses were performed.
Main Results:
- A high prevalence of medical PTEs (69%) and PMTS symptoms (36%) was observed in the study cohort.
- Multivariate analysis indicated PMTS was associated with medication burden, emergency/intensive care visits, and parental PTSD.
- Consequences included school absenteeism, home opioid use, impaired quality of life, and parental work absence.
Conclusions:
- A significant proportion of children with chronic gastrointestinal diseases experience medical PTEs and PMTS.
- Associations were found between PMTS, illness factors, parental PTSD, and functional impairments.
- Further research into PMTS detection, prevention, and treatment is crucial for improving pediatric health and quality of life.
Objectives:
Known as pediatric medical traumatic stress (PMTS), posttraumatic stress symptoms from medical experiences have not been explored in children with chronic gastrointestinal diseases. This cross-sectional study of children and adolescents with inflammatory bowel disease, chronic pancreatitis and cystic fibrosis, aimed to (1) estimate the prevalence of medical potentially traumatic events (PTEs) and PMTS, (2) explore potential risk factors for PMTS, and (3) explore potential consequences of PMTS.
Methods:
This cross-sectional study used validated, self-report measures to evaluate PTEs and PMTS. Descriptive statistics and regression analyses were used to achieve study objectives.
Results:
Over two-thirds of children reported a medical potentially traumatic event (91 of 132, 69%). Forty-eight had PMTS symptoms (36%). PMTS was associated with medication burden, emergency and intensive care visits, and parent posttraumatic stress disorder in multivariate analysis. Potential consequences associated with PMTS included school absenteeism, home opioid use, poor quality of life, and parent missed work.
Conclusions:
A substantial portion of our cohort reported medical PTEs and PMTS. The exploratory analysis identified potential associations between PMTS and illness factors, parent posttraumatic stress disorder, and functional impairments. Further studies of PMTS detection, prevention and treatment are integral to optimizing these children's health and quality of life.
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