Health-related quality of life of children and adolescents with mental disorders

Abstract

BackgroundThe aim was to assess the association of internalising and externalising pathology with the child’s health-related quality of life (QoL), and to determine which child and environmental characteristics beyond pathology were related to poor QoL.MethodsData was obtained for 120 children and adolescents (aged 6 to 18) commencing outpatient psychotherapy treatment. Parents and children (aged 11 years and older) filled out questionnaires. QoL was measured with the KIDSCREEN-27.ResultsQoL was more strongly associated with internalising than externalising pathology according to both self- and parent report. Multiple regression analyses showed that beyond internalising and externalising pathology, gender, age, family functioning, functional impairment, and prior mental health treatment were associated with individual QoL scales.ConclusionsThe data underscored the relationship between mental pathology and impaired QoL even if potential item overlap was controlled for. This stresses the importance of extending therapy goals and outcome measures from mere pathology to measures of QoL in psychotherapy research particularly for patients with internalising pathology.

Reliability and validity of Japanese versions of KIDSCREEN-27 and KIDSCREEN-10 questionnaires

“…In particular, the use of these questionnaires for studies of HRQOL of children with mental health problems has increased [18][19][20]. Since mental health problems such as attention deficits, learning difficulties, and conduct problems can strongly impact HRQOL at school and at home in everyday life [19,21], in addition to the potential difficulties in maintaining attention when performing tasks [22], a brief and reliable HRQOL measure is indispensable for evaluating therapeutic and educational interventions.…”

Applying a developmental approach to quality of life assessment in children and adolescents with psychological disorders: challenges and guidelines

“…A developmental approach to QL assessment asserts the same recommendation for studies involving school-aged children and adolescents to avoid the inaccuracy of assuming the former group to be "small adolescents" or the latter to merely be "grown up children" [7]. In fact, it has been suggested that the incorporation of QL assessments in the therapeutic process might increase in importance from childhood to adolescence because psychopathology may persist, and its impact on QL tends to increase with age [12].…”

Fatores Associados a Indicadores De Transtornos Mentais Em Crianças E Adolescentes: Uma Revisão Integrativa

“…Como resultado, concluiu-se que: o número de consultas que resultaram em diagnóstico e recomendação dobrou para os jovens, mas não aumentou para os adultos; o cuidado com a saúde mental infantil cresceu em maior escala que a adulta e coincidiu com o aumento do uso de medicação psicotrópica; a grande maioria dos atendimentos em saúde mental em consultório é realizada por médicos que não são psiquiatras; o número de consultas que resultaram em prescrição aumentou tanto em adultos quanto em crianças. Weitkamp et al (2013) almejavam identificar a relação entre a internalização e externalização de sintomas e a qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde de crianças e adolescentes. Verificou-se que, tanto para os pais quanto para as crianças, o bem-estar físico e psicológico influenciou a qualidade de vida, que tem uma relação mais forte com a internalização dos sintomas do que com a externalização.…”