Musculo-skeletal pain, quality of life and depression in mothers of children with cerebral palsy

Abstract

Objective. To evaluate musculoskeletal pain (MSP) in mothers of children with cerebral palsy (CP), and to determine the effects of zone of pain on health-related quality of life (QoL) and symptoms of depression.

Patients and methods. The study included a total of 81 children with CP, together with their mothers (group 1), and a total of 60 healthy children, together with their mothers (group 2). Presence of MSP, and the zone of pain in mothers were evaluated [lower back pain (LBP), pain in other zones, without pain]. Mothers' QoL was assessed with Short Form-36 (SF-36) scale, and presence of symptoms of depression was assessed with Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Multivariate analysis of variance test analysis was performed to see the main effects of the factors mother having a child with CP (group 1, group 2) and zone of pain (LBP, other, no pain) on the BDI scores and SF-36 QoL sub parameters of mothers. Logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the parameters predicting the presence of LBP in mothers in group 1.

Results. MSP and LBP were found to be significantly higher in group 1. Main effect of the mother having a child with CP on BDI score and physical role (PR) and mental health (MH) parameters was found to be significant. Mean BDI scores of mothers in group 1 was found to be significantly higher as compared to the other group, and mean PR parameter and MH values were found to be significantly lower. Main effect of the zone of pain (arising from the group of mothers with LBP) was found to be significant on physical functioning, bodily pain, general health perception, MH parameters and BDI. Logistic regression analysis showed that MH and bodily pain parameters significantly predicted the presence of LBP.

Conclusion. Deterioration of MH in mothers with cerebral palsied child may be causing them to experience more LBP. Experience of increased LBP causes deterioration of health-related QoL.

Keywords:

• Caregiver
• cerebral palsy
• pain
• quality of life

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.