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Psychological problems in siblings of children and adolescents with inflammatory bowel disease

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Abstract

The mental health of twenty siblings of children and adolescents with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) was compared with a matched group of siblings of healthy children and adolescents. No significant differences were found as regards general psychopathology or behaviour problems. However, significant differences were found in certain areas, especially with regard to peer relations, mood and reliance. Self-esteem was also lower among the siblings of such IBD patients and they tended towards depression and physiological anxiety symptoms. There was no significant correlation between the degree of severity or the duration of the disease and psychopathology in the siblings. The results show that the mental health of siblings of children and adolescents with IBD may merit the attention of paediatricians.

Résumé

On a comparé l'état de santé psychique de vingt frères et soeurs d'enfants et de jeunes, souffrant de maladie intestinale inflammatoire chronique (IBD) à un groupe semblable de frères et soeurs d'enfants et de jeunes en bonne santé. On n'a pas trouvé de différences notables en ce qui concerne la psychopathologie générale ou les problèmes généraux de comportement. Cependant, dans certain domaines, on a constaté des différences notables, surtout en ce qui concerne les relations avec les camerades, l'état d'humeur et le sentiment de sécurité. On a trouvé aussi que l'estime de soi était plus faible chez les frères et soeurs du groupe IBD, ainsi que des tendances à la dépression et à l'anxiété physiologique. Il n'y avait pas de corrélation notable entre le degré de gravité ou la durée de la maladie IBD et la psychopathologie des frères et soeurs. Les résultats signifient que l'état de santé psychique des frères et soeurs d'enfants et de jeunes souffrant de IBD peut avoir besoin d'être remarqué en pédiatrie.

Zusammenfassung

Der psychische Zustand von zwanzig Geschwistern von Kindern und Jugendlichen mit chronischer inflammatorischer Darmkrankheit (IBD) wurde mit einer Kontrollgruppe von Geschwistern von gesunden Kindern und Jugendlichen verglichen. Kein signifikanter Unterschied konnte nachgewiesen werden weder in der generellen Psychopathologie noch im allgemeinen Verhalten. In gewissen Gebieten wurden aber doch signifikante Unterschiede nachgewiesen, besonders bezüglich Kameradschaftsverhältnisse, Stimmungslage und Sicherheitsgefühl. Das Selbstgefühl war auch schwächer bei den IBD-Geschwistern, und man sah Tendenzen zu Depression und physiologischen Angstsymptomen. Es gab keine Korrelation zwischen Grad und Dauer der Krankheit und Psychopathologie der Geschwister. Das Resultat bedeuter, daß der psychische Zustand der Geschwister von Kindern und Jugendlichen mit IBD in der Pädiatrie beachtet werden sollte.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Child and Youth Psychiatry, University Hospital, S-751 85, Uppsala, Sweden

    Ingemar Engström

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  1. Ingemar Engström
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Acknowledgements: This research was financially supported by the Sven and Dagmar Salén Foundation. The author is grateful to Dr. Bo L. Lindquist for helpful comments about the manuscript.

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Engström, I. Psychological problems in siblings of children and adolescents with inflammatory bowel disease. European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry 1, 24–33 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02084431

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