Post-traumatic stress spectrum symptoms in parents of children affected by epilepsy: Gender differences. (August 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Carmassi, C.; Corsi, M.; Bertelloni, C.A.; Pedrinelli, V.; Massimetti, G.; Peroni, D.; Bonuccelli, A.; Orsini, A.; Dell'Osso, L.
• Is Part Of: Seizure. Volume 80(2020)
• Page Start: 169
• Page End: 174
• Publication Date: 2020-08
• Subjects: PTSD -- TALS-SR -- Epilepsy -- Parents -- Caregivers; Epilepsy -- Periodicals; Epilepsy -- Periodicals; Seizures -- Periodicals; Épilepsie -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; Electronic journals; 616.853
• DOI: 10.1016/j.seizure.2020.06.021
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1059-1311

Abstract

Highlights: PTSD rates of 25 % emerged with a statistically higher prevalence in mothers. Mothers present more cognitive and somatic manifestations. Abstract: Purpose: To investigate psychopathological reaction to traumatic stress, addressing in particular gender difference, in parental couples of children affected by epilepsy. Methods: 50 mothers and 50 fathers, paired for one's child, of children followed at the Pediatric Unit of a major Italian University Hospital with a diagnosis of epilepsy were enrolled, screened by means of the Semi-structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5 (SCID-5) and filled the Trauma and Loss Spectrum Self-Report (TALS-SR), an international instrument to evaluate post-traumatic stress symptomatology. Results: 25 % of the total sample presented a diagnosis of PTSD with a statistically higher prevalence of mothers (36 % and 14 %, respectively; p = .021). Furthermore, 44 % (48 % mothers and 40 % fathers) presented a partial PTSD. Important gender differences emerged also for all cluster dimensions of the TALS-SR except for the Avoidance. Finally, the analysis of the single items of the TALS-SR evidenced that in mothers subgroup prevail cognitive symptoms of fear and sadness as well as somatic manifestations. Conclusions: Our results point out the differences between mothers and fathers in trauma response and underline the need to develop gender targeted models of healthcare prevention and assistance.