Sothirasan Kavitha, Anand A J, Mittal Rashmi, Khoo Poh Choo, Chandran Suresh
KK Women's and Children's Hospital, Singapore.
Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore.
Heliyon. 2020 Oct 3;6(10):e05095. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e05095. eCollection 2020 Oct.
Globally, mental health disorders and behavioural problems afflict persons with Down syndrome (DS) with a high prevalence reported in some studies. However, data on behavioural and emotional disorders in DS cohort in Asian countries are lacking.
To assess the mental health status of children and adults with DS, using the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) and its impact on caregivers using the impact supplement.
The questionnaires were administered to caregivers of eligible participants aged ≥4 years. In addition, Down syndrome participant's ≥ 11 years old attempted the self-report. Scoring was done as per standard SDQ guidelines.
The total difficulties score was observed to be at least borderline high in 30.6% (19/62) of the participants. Peer relationships and conduct subscale issues were rated high, with abnormal internalizing scores predominating over externalizing scores. From parents' perspective, behavioural issues impacted 41.9% (26/62) of participants' in areas of education, peer relationship and leisure. However, only 3.8% (1/26) of the caregivers whose children had behavioural issues perceived them as a burden.
Mental health difficulties are a significant morbidity in our DS cohort. SDQ is a useful user-friendly tool for identification of behavioural problems enabling timely referral for intervention and therapy.
在全球范围内,心理健康障碍和行为问题困扰着唐氏综合征(DS)患者,一些研究报告称其患病率很高。然而,亚洲国家DS队列中关于行为和情绪障碍的数据匮乏。
使用优势与困难问卷(SDQ)评估DS儿童和成人的心理健康状况,并使用影响补充问卷评估其对照顾者的影响。
向年龄≥4岁的符合条件参与者的照顾者发放问卷。此外,11岁及以上的唐氏综合征参与者尝试进行自我报告。评分按照标准SDQ指南进行。
在30.6%(19/62)的参与者中,总困难得分被观察到至少处于临界高水平。同伴关系和品行分量表问题得分较高,内化得分异常比外化得分更为突出。从父母的角度来看,行为问题在教育、同伴关系和休闲等方面影响了41.9%(26/62)的参与者。然而,在孩子有行为问题的照顾者中,只有3.8%(1/26)认为这些问题是一种负担。
心理健康问题在我们的DS队列中是一种重要的发病情况。SDQ是一种有用且便于使用的工具,可用于识别行为问题,从而能够及时转诊进行干预和治疗。