Prevalence and trajectories of depressive symptoms among mothers of children with newly diagnosed epilepsy: A longitudinal 10‐year study

Abstract

Summary Objective Parental depression significantly impacts children’s health and well‐being. This study aimed to (1) estimate the prevalence of depressive symptoms, at six time points, among mothers over the first 10 years after their child was diagnosed with epilepsy; (2) identify trajectories of maternal depressive symptoms over time; and (3) identify baseline factors associated with each trajectory. Methods Data came from the Health‐Related Quality of Life in Children with Epilepsy Study (HERQULES), a Canada‐wide prospective cohort study. Data on child, parent, and family characteristics were collected at the time of diagnosis, and follow‐ups at 0.5, 1, 2, 8, and 10 years. Maternal depressive symptoms were measured using the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale. Trajectories of depressive symptoms were evaluated using latent class growth modeling, and multinomial logistic regression was used to identify baseline factors associated with each trajectory. Results A total of 356 mothers participated in the study, of whom 57% scored in the at‐risk range for major depression disorder (period‐prevalence). Four unique trajectories were identified as follows: “Low‐Stable” (29% of mothers), “Intermediate‐Stable” (46%), “High‐Stable” (20%), and “High‐Decreasing” (5%). Positive family environment was consistently associated with a better trajectory of depressive symptoms over time; other significant factors included type of seizures, child cognitive comorbidity, maternal age, and maternal education. Significance A substantial proportion of mothers of children with epilepsy are at risk for depression, and this risk is stable over the long term. Family environment at the time of diagnosis has long‐term and persistent effects and may be an ideal target for interventions.

Behavioral phenotypes of temporal lobe epilepsy

“…The behavioral phenotype groups identified here were characterized predominantly by progressive increases in psychopathology as opposed to specific psychopathological features. In the larger epilepsy neurobehavioral phenotype literature, the patterns shown here have been observed in cross‐sectional and/or prospective investigations of quality of life, 43,44 cognitive trajectories of children treated surgically or medically, 45 and most patterns of depression in mothers of children with new onset epilepsy 46 . Cognitive phenotype investigations of adults with temporal lobe epilepsy have more typically identified varying patterns of abnormality across groups 10,9,17,11,13,14,16 as well as in patterns of executive function in children with epilepsy (Modi et al, 2019).…”

“…In the larger epilepsy neurobehavioral phenotype literature, the patterns shown here have been observed in cross-sectional and/or prospective investigations of quality of life, 43,44 cognitive trajectories of children treated surgically or medically, 45 and most patterns of depression in mothers of children with new onset epilepsy. 46 Cognitive phenotype investigations of adults with temporal lobe epilepsy have more typically identified varying patterns of abnormality across groups 10,9,17,11,13,14,16 as well as in patterns of executive function in children with epilepsy (Modi et al, 2019). That said, as this is the first attempt to characterize behavioral phenotype groups in temporal lobe epilepsy, more research is needed using other behavioral metrics and extension to other epilepsy syndromes to derive a fuller understanding of the taxonomy of behavioral abnormality in epilepsy and its associated patterns.…”

A live-online mindfulness-based intervention for children living with epilepsy and their families: protocol for a randomized controlled trial of Making Mindfulness Matter©

“…Parents of CWE have poorer HRQOL, with up to 50% of mothers of CWE at risk for clinical depression and 58% of parents at risk for anxiety [17][18][19]. Notably, our findings, along with those of others, point to family environment as an important determinant for long-term HRQOL; epilepsy-related factors, with the exception of seizure control, are seldom associated with HRQOL and mental health [12,[20][21][22]. It is therefore essential that interventions target parents' well-being and HRQOL as well as the HRQOL and psychological well-being of CWE.…”

Effect of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Psychosis (CBTP) on Mothers of Youngsters with Cerebral Palsy

“…Conversely, cognitive behaviors have been very helpful in introspecting different forms of depression, anxiety, and stresses. These refers to a Behavioral Cognitive Mentoring Program in reducing Cognitive and psychological problems of the child among Mothers (CBTP) and Behavioral Cognitive Mentoring Program in reducing the Feelings of despair and frustration among Mothers (CBTFD), which includes the inculcation of several forms of behavioral and pre-listed approaches that are borrowed from some principles [13]. Hence, the task of raising Youngsters with disability brings great stress and uncommon changes [8,14].…”