Prevalence of and Factors Associated with Depression in Caregivers of Children with Cerebral Palsy

Korapat Phongdara; Kingkaew Pajareya

Authors

Korapat Phongdara Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University
Kingkaew Pajareya Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University

Keywords:

prevalence, cerebral palsy, caregivers, depression, quality of life

Abstract

Objectives: To investigate the prevalence of depression in caregivers of children with cerebral palsy including the quality of life of caregivers and factors associated with depression

Study design: Cross-sectional study

Setting: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University

Subjects: Ninety-two caregivers of children with cerebral palsy

Methods: Caregivers of children with cerebral palsy were recruited and asked to complete a three-section questionnaire: demographic and personal information of both caregivers and the children they care for, The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) Thai version, and The World Health Organization Quality of Life Brief Thai version (WHOQOL-BREF-THAI).

Results: Sixty-three percent of the participants were female, with a median age of 39 and an interquartile range (IQR) of 32-44. The children with cerebral palsy had a median age of 8 years (IQR: 4-11). The prevalence of depression in the primary caregivers of children with cerebral palsy was 20.7%, with statistically significant findings indicating that caregivers of children with cerebral palsy who were non-verbal were more likely to experience depression at a rate 3.4 times higher than caregivers of children who could communicate using language (p < 0.05). Overall, the quality of life of the primary caregivers of children with cerebral palsy was moderate (65.5%). Caregivers with depression had significantly lower quality of life scores in all domains with the exception of social relationships.

Conclusions: The prevalence of depression among primary caregivers of children with cerebral palsy at Siriraj Hospital was 20.7%, with lack of language communication of their children with cerebral palsy a significant factor

References

National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities CfDCaP. Birth prevalence of cerebral palsy [Internet]. Atlanta: National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2022 May 3 [cited 2022 Oct 4]. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/cp/features/birth-prevalence.html

Basaran A, Karadavut KI, Uneri SO, Balbaloglu O, Atasoy N. The effect of having children with cerebral palsy on quality of life, burn-out, depression and anxiety scores: a comparative study. Eur J Phys Rehabil Med [Internet]. 2013 Dec [cited 2022 Oct 4];49(6):815-22. Avaliable from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24285025/

Chavasiri S, Tanamee T. Prevalence and factors associated with caregiver burden of disabled children in Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Siriraj Hospital. J Thai Rehabil Med. 2018;28(2):54-61. (in Thai)

Farajzadeh A, Dehghanizadeh M, Maroufizadeh S, Amini M, Shamili A. Predictors of mental health among parents of children with cerebral palsy during the COVID-19 pandemic in Iran: A web-based cross-sectional study. Res Dev Disabil [Internet]. 2021 May [cited 2022 Oct 4];112:103890. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33607484/ doi: 10.1016/j.ridd.2021.103890

Sonune SP, Gaur AK, Shenoy A. Prevalence of depression and quality of life in primary caregiver of children with cerebral palsy. J Family Med Prim Care [Internet]. 2021 Nov [cited 2023 Dec 4];10(11):;4205-11. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35136790/ doi: 10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_70_21

Hongrapipat J. A comparative study of quality of life (QOL) and mental health of caregiver with cerebral palsy child with healthy control. Med J Srisaket Surin Buriram Hosp. 2014;29(3):140-8. (in Thai)

Irwin L, Jesmont C, Basu A. A systematic review and meta-analysis of the effectiveness of interventions to improve psychological well-being in the parents of children with cerebral palsy. Res Dev Disabil [Internet]. 2019 Dec [cited 2022 Oct 4];95:103511. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31670025/ doi: 10.1016/j.ridd.2019.103511

Lotrakul M, Sumrithe S, Saipanish R. Reliability and validity of the Thai version of the PHQ-9. BMC Psychiatry [Internet]. 2008 Jun [cited 2023 Dec 4];8:46. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18570645/ doi: 10.1186/1471-244X-8-46

Mahatnirunkul S, Tuntipivatanasakul W, Pumpisanchai W. Comparison of the WHOQOL100 and the WHOQOL-BREF (26 items). J Ment Health Thai. 1998;5:4-15.

Andersen G, Mjøen T, Vik T. Prevalence of speech problems and the use of augmentative and alternative communication in children with cerebral palsy: a registry-based study in Norway. Perspectives on Augmentative and Alternative Communication [Internet]. 2010 Apr 1 [cited 2023 Dec 4];19:12-20. Available from: https://pubs.asha.org/doi/10.1044/aac19.1.12 doi: 10.1044/aac19.1.12

Unsal-Delialioglu S, Kaya K, Ozel S, Gorgulu G. Depression in mothers of children with cerebral palsy and related factors in Turkey: a controlled study. Int J Rehabil Res [Internet]. 2009 Sep [cited 2022 Oct 4]; 32(3):199-204. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19322102/ doi: 10.1097/MRR.0b013e32832607b6

Hewawitharana BDR, Wijesinghe CJ, De Silva A, Phillips JP, Hewawitharana GP. Disability and caregiver burden: Unique challenges in a developing country. J Pediatr Rehabil Med [Internet]. 2023 [cited 2023 Dec];16(3):483-91. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37212077/p doi: 10.3233/PRM-220070

Gugała B, Penar-Zadarko B, Pięciak-Kotlarz D, Wardak K, Lewicka-Chomont A, Futyma-Ziaja M, et al. Assessment of anxiety and depression in Polish primary parental caregivers of children with cerebral palsy compared to a control group, as well as identification of selected predictors. Int J Environ Res Public Health [Internet]. 2019 Oct [cited 2022 Oct 4];16(21);4173. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6862674/ doi: 10.3390/ijerph16214173

Arrieta J, Aguerrebere M, Raviola G, Flores H, Elliott P, Espinosa A, et al. Validity and utility of the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ)-2 and PHQ-9 for screening and diagnosis of depression in rural Chiapas, Mexico: a cross-sectional study. J Clin Psychol [Internet]. 2017 Sep [cited 2023 Dec 4];73(9):1076-90. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5573982/ doi: 10.1002/jclp.22390

Pandit B, Singh JK, Karn AK, Pandit R. Quality of life among primary caregivers of children with cerebral palsy living in Sarlahi and Rautahat Districts of Nepal. J Nepal Health Res Counc [Internet]. 2021 Jan [cited 2023 Dec 4];18(4):619-25. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33510499/ doi: 10.33314/jnhrc.v18i4.2282