SUICIDAL IDEATION AND BEHAVIORS IN MOTHERS OF CHILDREN WITH CEREBRAL PALSY

Abstract

Objective: Long-lasting care process can result in the withdrawal of the mother with children diagnosed cerebral palsy (CP) from the social environment and cultural activities, while leading also to physical exhaustion.The present study evaluates the levels of depression and anxiety, suicidal ideation and behaviors in mothers with children diagnosed with CP. 
 Methods: The study included 57 healthy mothers with children aged 2–16 years who have been diagnosed with CP, and 41 healthy mothers with healthy children as a control group. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), the Scale for Suicidal Ideation (SSI) and the Suicidal Behavior Scale (SBS) were administered to all participants. 
 Results: The sociodemographic status of the mothers of children with CP was similar to that of the mothers with healthy children (p>0.05). The HADS, SSI and SBS scores were found to be higher in the mothers with children with a CP diagnosis than in mothers with healthy children (p