Depression, anxiety and sleep quality of caregivers of children with spinal muscular atrophy

Abstract

<b>Background:</b> The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of anxiety, depression and sleep along with their influencing factors among the caregivers of patients with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). <b>Material-Methods:</b> Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-State (STAI-S), the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-Trait (STAI-T) and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) were used to assess the anxiety,depression and sleep quality of the caregivers of patients with SMA. Higher scores indicated a worse outcome for all three questionnaires. <b>Results:</b> 56 caregivers of the patients with SMA were included in the study. The mean age of the patients and caregivers were 7.3 ±5.0, 37.0 ±6.5, respectively. The mean scores of the BDI, STAI-S, STAI-T and PSQI were 13.5 ± 8.2, 37.8 ±9.0, 41.7 ±9.4, 7.3 ± 3.2, respectively. There was a positive correlation between BDI and PSQI scores (p=0.001, r=0.450). There was a negative correlation between the age of the caregiver and PSQI, BDI, STAI-T scores.(p=0.01 r=-0.341; p=0.006 r=-0.364, p=0.003 r=-0.395, respectively). The PSQI scores of the employed caregivers were significantly higher (p= 0.02). There was a negative correlation between BECK scores and household income (p=0.01,&nbsp;r=-0.34). There was a negative correlation between the age of the patient and the PSQI score of the caregiver (p=0.012, r=-0.33) The PSQI scores of the caregivers of children who could not attend to school because of disability were higher (p=0.04) <b>Conclusion:</b> Depression, anxiety and PSQI levels of caregivers of children with SMA were found to be higher. Economic and social support resources are needed in order to help caregivers of those children.