title: Symptom burden in individuals with cerebral palsy.
abstract: The current study sought to (1) determine the relative frequency and severity of eight symptoms in adults with cerebral palsy (CP), (2) examine the perceived course of these eight symptoms over time, and (3) determine the associations between the severity of these symptoms and psychosocial functioning. Eighty-three adults with CP completed a measure assessing the frequency, severity, and perceived course of eight symptoms (pain, weakness, fatigue, imbalance, numbness, memory loss, vision loss, and shortness of breath). Respondents also completed measures of community integration and psychological functioning. The results indicated that pain, fatigue, imbalance, and weakness were the most common and severe symptoms reported. All symptoms were reported to have either stayed the same or worsened, rather than resolved, over time. The symptoms were more closely related to social integration than to home integration, productive activity, or psychological functioning. Memory loss was a unique predictor of social integration in the multivariate context. This study highlighted several common and problematic symptoms experienced by adults with CP. Additional research is needed to identify the most effective treatments for those symptoms that affect community integration and psychological functioning as a way to improve the quality of life of individuals with CP.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA. athirsh@iupui.edu
authors.forename: Adam T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Hirsh
authors.forename: Juan C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Gallegos
authors.forename: Kevin J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Gertz
authors.forename: Joyce M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Engel
authors.forename: Mark P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Jensen
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D005221:Fatigue / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006987:Hypesthesia / Q000209:etiology; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D018908:Muscle Weakness / Q000209:etiology; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D011788:Quality of Life; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012931:Social Environment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D055815:Young Adult