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Original article
Psychological problems in children with hemiplegia: a European multicentre survey
  1. J Parkes1,
  2. M White-Koning2,
  3. N McCullough1,
  4. A Colver3
  1. 1
    School of Nursing & Midwifery, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland
  2. 2
    Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Université Paul Sabatier, Faculté de Médecine, Toulouse, France
  3. 3
    Sir James Spence Institute, Newcastle University, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
  1. Jackie Parkes, School of Nursing & Midwifery, Queen’s University Belfast, 10 Malone Road, Belfast BT9 5BN, Northern Ireland; j.parkes{at}qub.ac.uk

Abstract

Objective: To describe the prevalence and determinants of psychological problems in European children with hemiplegia.

Design: Cross-sectional survey.

Setting: Home visits in nine European regions by research associates who administered standard questionnaires to parents.

Patients: 279 children with hemiplegia aged 8–12 years were recruited from population-based case registers.

Outcome measure: Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire comprising emotion, conduct, hyperactivity, peer problems and prosocial domains. An “impact score” (IS) measures the social and psychological impact of the child’s difficulties.

Results: Children with hemiplegia had higher mean scores on the total difficulties score (TDS) compared with a normative sample (p<0.001). 48% and 57% of children, respectively, had borderline–abnormal TDS and IS. Significant, independent associations were observed between intellectual impairment and an increased risk for hyperactivity (odds ratio; OR 8.4, 95% CI 3.4 to 20.8), peer problems (OR 3.1, 95% CI 1.7 to 5.5), psychological and social impact (OR 3.0, 95% CI 1.6 to 5.6) when children with an intellectual quotient (IQ) <50 were compared with those with an IQ >70. Boys had an increased risk for conduct (OR 2.1, 95% CI 1.2 to 3.7) and hyperactivity disorders (OR 2.5, 95% CI 1.4 to 4.6). Poor self-esteem was associated with an increased risk for peer problems (OR 5.8, 95% CI 2.5 to 13.4) and poor prosocial skills (OR 7.5, 95% CI 2.4 to 23.2) compared with those with high self-esteem. Other determinants of psychological adjustment were impaired communication, severe pain and living with a single parent.

Conclusions: Many of the psychological problems identified are amenable to treatment. Special attention should be given to those at highest risk of developing psychological difficulties.

https://doi.org/10.1136/adc.2008.151688

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    Footnotes

    • Funding: The study is funded by the European Commission Research Framework 5 Programme - Grant number QLG5-CT-2002-00636. MW-K has a research grant from APETREIMC-Fondation Motrice and La Fondation Garches. The German region joined later, funded by Bundesministerium für Gesundheit/German Ministry of Health (GRR-58640-2/14) and Stiftung für das Behinderte Kind/Foundation for the Disabled Child.

    • Competing interests: None.

    • Ethics approval: Permission to conduct the study was obtained in each country and complied with the local requirements.