Children with end-stage renal failure: psychological effects on patients, siblings and parents

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Nephrology
• Child Psychology
• Family Studies

Background:

• Renal failure in children presents significant challenges.
• The psychological impact on families, including parents and siblings, requires thorough investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess anxiety, depression, and psychosomatic complaints in parents of children with renal failure.
• To evaluate behavioral problems in children with renal failure and their siblings.
• To explore personality traits of the affected children and their family dynamics.

Main Methods:

• Utilized standardized tests to measure anxiety, depression, and psychosomatic complaints in parents.
• Assessed behavioral problems in children and siblings.
• Administered the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ) and a modified family relations test to children.

Main Results:

• Parents of children with renal failure reported higher levels of anxiety and depression than the general population.
• Parents also exhibited more psychosomatic problems compared to parents of children with other chronic conditions.
• No significant increase in behavioral problems was observed in affected children or their siblings compared to control groups.
• A positive correlation was found between the child's age at diagnosis and fathers' anxiety and depression.
• Mothers' anxiety and depression scores correlated positively with fathers' scores.
• Negative correlations were observed between age at diagnosis and lie scores on the EPQ.

Conclusions:

• Parental mental health, specifically anxiety and depression, is significantly impacted by a child's renal failure diagnosis.
• Early diagnosis may be associated with lower parental psychological distress.
• Despite parental distress, children with renal failure and their siblings do not show increased behavioral issues, suggesting resilience or effective coping mechanisms within the family.