OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate stress in parents of children with epilepsy relative to the impact of childhood depression, learning disorders, and seizure-related risk factors. METHODS: Sixty-five parents and their children completed the Parenting Stress Index, Child Depression Inventory, and behavior and demographic forms. Kruska-Wallis ANOVAs and Spearman's rank correlations were used in a cross-sectional study design. RESULTS: High levels of stress were found among the parents (45%). Overall, child depression (23%) was found to significantly increase the distress parents experienced in their role (P<0.05). Another risk factor found to impact parenting stress was learning disabilities (P<0.01). The seizure-related factors of polytherapy, duration, and age at onset were correlated with depression (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: To effectively manage children with epilepsy, assessments of depression and learning must be considered because of their potential impact on parenting stress and the child's overall quality of life.
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate stress in parents of children with epilepsy relative to the impact of childhood depression, learning disorders, and seizure-related risk factors. METHODS: Sixty-five parents and their children completed the Parenting Stress Index, ChildDepression Inventory, and behavior and demographic forms. Kruska-Wallis ANOVAs and Spearman's rank correlations were used in a cross-sectional study design. RESULTS: High levels of stress were found among the parents (45%). Overall, childdepression (23%) was found to significantly increase the distress parents experienced in their role (P<0.05). Another risk factor found to impact parenting stress was learning disabilities (P<0.01). The seizure-related factors of polytherapy, duration, and age at onset were correlated with depression (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: To effectively manage children with epilepsy, assessments of depression and learning must be considered because of their potential impact on parenting stress and the child's overall quality of life.
Authors: Ioannis Karakis; Andrew J Cole; Georgia D Montouris; Marta San Luciano; Kimford J Meador; Charitomeni Piperidou Journal: Epilepsy Res Treat Date: 2014-04-08