Post-traumatic stress and major depressive disorders in parent caregivers of children with a chronic disorder

C Carmassi; M Corsi; C A Bertelloni; V Pedrinelli; G Massimetti; D G Peroni; A Bonuccelli; A Orsini; L Dell'Osso

doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2019.02.062

Post-traumatic stress and major depressive disorders in parent caregivers of children with a chronic disorder

Psychiatry Res. 2019 Sep:279:195-200. doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2019.02.062. Epub 2019 Mar 13.

Authors

C Carmassi¹, M Corsi², C A Bertelloni¹, V Pedrinelli¹, G Massimetti³, D G Peroni⁴, A Bonuccelli⁵, A Orsini⁶, L Dell'Osso⁷

Affiliations

¹ Psychiatric Clinic, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Via Roma 67, 56100, Pisa, Italy.
² Psychiatric Clinic, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Via Roma 67, 56100, Pisa, Italy. Electronic address: dott.martinacorsi@gmail.com.
³ Psychiatric Clinic, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Via Roma 67, 56100, Pisa, Italy. Electronic address: gabriele.massimetti@med.unipi.it.
⁴ Pediatric Clinic, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Via Roma 67, 56100, Pisa, Italy. Electronic address: diego.peroni@unipi.it.
⁵ Pediatric Clinic, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Via Roma 67, 56100, Pisa, Italy. Electronic address: dott.bonuccelli@alice.it.
⁶ Pediatric Clinic, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Via Roma 67, 56100, Pisa, Italy.
⁷ Psychiatric Clinic, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Via Roma 67, 56100, Pisa, Italy. Electronic address: liliana.dellosso@med.unipi.it.

PMID: 30876730
DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2019.02.062

Abstract

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) are the most common psychiatric consequences among caregivers of pediatric patients affected by severe chronic illnesses. The aims of this study were to describe rates of PTSD and MDD in a sample of parents of epileptic children, and to examine the correlations between symptoms of post-traumatic stress and depression. Parents of children with epilepsy were enrolled and screened by means of the PTSD module of the Semi-Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5 (SCID-5) and of the Hamilton Rating Scale for depression (HAM-D). They also completed the Trauma and Loss Spectrum Self-Report (TALS-SR), an international instrument to evaluate post-traumatic stress spectrum symptoms. Results revealed PTSD rates of 15.7% (19.5% mothers, 8,1% fathers; p = .043) and MDD rates of 7.5% (10.2% mothers,1.8% fathers; p = .064). A model of multiple linear regression indicated a significant B linear regression coefficient between being mothers (p = .012), witnessing tonic-clonic seizures (p = .015) and having higher TALS-SR total score (p < .001) as predictors of HAM-D total score. Our findings highlight the relationship between PTSD and MDD, evidencing the need for further studies on pediatric caregivers aimed to develop specific intervention programs of healthcare prevention and assistance.

Keywords: Caregivers; Epilepsy; MDD; PTSD; Parents; TALS-SR.

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Adult
Caregivers / psychology*
Child
Chronic Disease
Depressive Disorder, Major / diagnosis
Depressive Disorder, Major / psychology*
Depressive Disorder, Major / therapy
Epilepsy / diagnosis
Epilepsy / psychology*
Epilepsy / therapy
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Parents / psychology*
Self Report
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / diagnosis
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / psychology*
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / therapy