Changes in Scoliosis Patient and Parental Assessment of Mental Health in the Course of Cheneau Brace Treatment Based on the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire

Abstract

In the presented study we aimed to investigate the influence of bracing time on perception of mental health by both parents and children with Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS) longitudinally, in relation to socio-demographic and scoliosis-related data. The study design was comprised of three questionnaire assessments, with the second and the third evaluation taking place 6 and 12 months after the beginning of the study, respectively. Thirty-six AIS females treated conservatively and their parents completed the Polish versions of The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire-25 (SDQ-25). The results indicated psychiatric disorder was unlikely, but concern all SDQ-25 parent and patient domains and general results. Patient results do not differ significantly in regards to the total score and the particular domains of the SDQ-25. Parents SDQ-25 results differ significantly in regards to the emotional symptoms domain only (p = .023, after Bonferroni correction, the difference is insignificant). The study groups differ significantly within the 2nd evaluation in regards to hyperactivity/inattention domain (p = .026) and within the last evaluation in regards to emotional symptoms domain (p = .009). After Bonferroni correction the differences are insignificant. In general, parents and their children with AIS perceived patients’ mental health in a similar way. Patient and parent assessment of mental health was unchanged after a 12-month brace treatment period. Poor psychological outcome was associated with more severe spinal deformity, brace-wearing duration and age of patient.