Living with a child with familial Mediterranean fever: does it affect the quality of life of the parents?
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the present study was to assess the quality of life (QOL) and the psychological status of parents of children with familial Mediterranean fever (FMF).


METHODS
The QOL, anxiety and depression of the parents of 35 children with FMF were evaluated and compared to the parents of 23 healthy children.


RESULTS
Mothers of FMF children had lower QOL scores than mothers of healthy children: 5.5 +/- 1.1 versus 6.0 +/- 0.6 (p = 0.048). They also expressed higher levels of anxiety and depression. Within each group, mothers were more anxious and depressed than fathers. Parents with several FMF children were not significantly different from parents with only one FMF child.


CONCLUSIONS
The QOL and psychological well being of parents with FMF children were found to be slightly impaired, especially that of the mothers.
Press
J
J
Department of Pediatrics, Soroka Medical Center, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.
Neumann
L
L
Abu-Shakra
M
M
Bolotin
A
A
Buskila
D
D
D000293:Adolescent; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D010505:Familial Mediterranean Fever; D005220:Fathers / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012016:Reference Values