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This page is an AI-assisted Turkish summary of the study presented at the 26th World Congress of Psychiatry. The study belongs to the presenting authors; please refer to the original source when citing it.

EV0964

The impact of spasticity severity on quality of life in children with cerebral palsy and psychological distress in caregivers

IMPACT OF SPASTICITY SEVERITY ON QUALITY OF LIFE IN CHILDREN WITH CEREBRAL PALSY AND PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS IN CAREGIVERS

Greater spasticity severity in children with cerebral palsy is associated with both poorer quality of life for the child and increased psychological distress in caregivers.

The aim was to examine the relationship between spasticity severity, the child's quality of life, and caregivers' psychological distress in children with cerebral palsy (CP). This cross-sectional study included 58 children with cerebral palsy and their caregivers. Spasticity severity was assessed using the Modified Ashworth Scale, the child's quality of life using the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL), and caregivers' anxiety and depressive symptoms using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Greater spasticity severity was significantly associated with lower quality of life scores in children with cerebral palsy (p < 0.001). Substantial psychological distress was identified among caregivers of children with severe spasticity; anxiety was reported in 41% of caregivers and depressive symptoms in 36%. There was a moderate correlation between spasticity severity and caregiver psychological distress (r = 0.45, p = 0.002). The authors state that the impact of spasticity extends beyond the child's motor impairment, affecting both the child's quality of life and the psychological well-being of family caregivers. They therefore emphasize that comprehensive cerebral palsy management should address caregivers' mental well-being alongside the child's functional needs, supporting a family-centered approach.

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