Post-traumatic stress disorder and related psychopathology in parents of children with epilepsy

Mental difficulties and psychiatric illnesses are common in families of children with epilepsy. The aim of this study is to investigate the prevalence and possible risk factors of post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and anxiety in a sample of parents of children with epilepsy. Parents of children with epilepsy who presented to Turgut Ozal Medical Center Pediatric Neurology Outpatient Treatment Unit between January and March 2023 were invited to this cross-sectional study. Participants filled out a questionnaire examining demographic variables. Depression and anxiety levels were evaluated with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HAD-S), and post-traumatic stress levels were evaluated with the Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder short scale (PTSD-short scale). A total of 89 parents, including 47 mothers, and 42 fathers, participated in the study. Of the study participants, 10.11% were at risk for depression and 3.4% for anxiety disorder. 6.7% had PTSD. There was a positive correlation between HAD-S subscale scores and PTSD-short scale scores. According to the linear regression model, PTSD was negatively correlated with having a job and education level, and positively correlated with anxiety and depression. Anxiety and depression were only associated with PTSD. Parents of epileptic children are at risk for PTSD, depression, and anxiety. Clinicians need to identify at-risk parents at an early stage and develop specific assist-oriented intervention programs to provide systematic support.