Abstract

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in parents of children with Type1 diabetes during COVID-19 pandemic

Author(s): Riccardo Schiaffini

and physiological symptoms due to a traumatic, severe, event. Only few studies focused on
the effects of Covid-19 on psychosocial outcomes in children with Type 1 Diabetes and their
parents.
Aim of the study: The aim of this study was to evaluate the presence PTSD in parents of
children with T1D during COVID-19 pandemic lockdown.
Patients and methods: In the period between March and May 2020 we submitted the “Impact
of Event Scale Revised” (IES-R) questionnaire to the parents of 34 children with Type 1 Diabetes,
asking them to express their emotions about the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
Results: A total of thirty mothers (mean age 43.0 ± 4.2 years) and 25 fathers (mean age 45.6 ±
5.9 years) participated in the survey and completed the questionnaires. 29.1% of parents had
a score that allows defining a clinically relevant level of PTSD; ten mothers and 6 fathers had a
PTSD clinically relevant score, corresponding, respectively, to 28.4% and 24% of total mothers
and fathers. Finally, mothers and fathers, both express PTSD symptoms mainly in the form of
intrusion and hyper arousal.
Conclusion: The present study confirms a high prevalence symptoms related to PTSD in
mothers and fathers of children with Type 1 Diabetes. We believe that psychosocial outcomes
of the COVID-19 pandemic should be taken into account in the planning of the next future
assistance for children with T1D