Psychosocial Impacts And Quality of Life of Children With Atopic Dermatitis

Abstract

This study was conducted on 100 children with atopic dermatitis (AD) attending Dermatology Clinic, Al-Hussein University Hospital and an equal number of children as controls. The aim of the study was to determine the psychosocial impacts of AD on children and their families, to define quality of life (QOL) of children and their families and to determine the relationship between these items and AD severity. A cross-section, analytical, clinic based study design was chosen to perform this research. Criteria for diagnosis of depression and anxiety were according to DSM IV. Also, we used The Children’s Dermatology Life Quality Index and The Dermatitis Family Impact questionnaire to assess the impact of AD on the children’s quality of life and to assess the impact of AD on the quality of family life, respectively. The most common behavioural and psychiatric impacts in children were dependence (33.0%) and anger (26.0%). Also, AD interfered with children’s’ social life and recreation in 73.0% and 29.0% of them, respectively. While, mothers’ psychiatric impacts and family disturbances were more in AD families; 43.0% and 70.0%, respectively. The impacts of AD were more in children and families with severe AD with statistically significant differences. Also, 86.0% of children with AD and 62.0% of their mothers had poor QOL. This study was conducted on 100 children with atopic dermatitis (AD) attending Dermatology Clinic, Al-Hussein University Hospital and an equal number of children as controls. The aim of the study was to determine the psychosocial impacts of AD on children and their families, to define quality of life (QOL) of children and their families and to determine the relationship between these items and AD severity. A cross-section, analytical, clinic based study design was chosen to perform this research. Criteria for diagnosis of depression and anxiety were according to DSM IV. Also, we used The Children’s Dermatology Life Quality Index and The Dermatitis Family Impact questionnaire to assess the impact of AD on the children’s quality of life and to assess the impact of AD on the quality of family life, respectively. The most common behavioural and psychiatric impacts in children were dependence (33.0%) and anger (26.0%). Also, AD interfered with children’s’ social life and recreation in 73.0% and 29.0% of them, respectively. While, mothers’ psychiatric impacts and family disturbances were more in AD families; 43.0% and 70.0%, respectively. The impacts of AD were more in children and families with severe AD with statistically significant differences. Also, 86.0% of children with AD and 62.0% of their mothers had poor QOL.