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A Psychiatry Service for Parents of Children With Medical Complexity
Kayla Esser1,2, Neda Askari3, Nichelle Benny Gerard1
1Child Health Evaluative Sciences, SickKids Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Pediatrics
|February 12, 2026
Summary
Parents of children with medical complexity often experience mental health challenges, with most receiving new psychiatric diagnoses like depression and anxiety. Integrated care models and virtual services can improve access to mental health support for these caregivers.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Pediatric Complex Care
- Mental Health Services Research
Background:
- Children with medical complexity (CMC) require extensive caregiver support due to chronic conditions and technology dependence.
- Parental caregivers of CMC frequently experience suboptimal mental health.
- The psychiatric profiles of parents of CMC are not well-understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the clinical and demographic characteristics of parents of CMC receiving care from an integrated psychiatry service.
- To identify common psychiatric diagnoses and treatment recommendations for this population.
Main Methods:
- A descriptive case series utilizing retrospective electronic medical record review (2020-2023).
- Inclusion of 57 parents of CMC referred to a novel psychiatry service integrated with a pediatric complex care program.
- All psychiatric assessments and treatments were delivered via virtual consultations.
Main Results:
- A high proportion of parents (79%) received new psychiatric diagnoses.
- The most prevalent diagnoses included depressive disorders (67%), anxiety disorders (65%), and trauma- and stressor-related disorders (56%).
- Recommended treatments were primarily psychotherapy (95%) and pharmacotherapy (75%). The sample comprised 84% females with a mean age of 42 years.
Conclusions:
- A significant number of treatable psychiatric illnesses were identified in parents of CMC.
- Integrated pediatric complex care and psychiatry services, enhanced by virtual delivery, can improve access to mental health care for this vulnerable group.
- Further research is needed on treatment adherence and efficacy in this caregiver population.
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