Correlation of Anxiety-Depression and Sleep Quality in Mothers of Children with Cystic Fibrosis and Asthma

Cystic fibrosis and asthma are considered among the chronic respiratory diseases. Taking care of the sick child by the mother-which is usually the main care taker- can be associated with high loads of stress and result in behavioral problems like anxiety, depression and change in sleep quality. This study aimed at evaluating the correlation between depression- anxiety and sleep quality in mothers of children suffering from cystic fibrosis and asthma hospitalized in Masih Daneshvari Hospital. This was an analytical descriptive cross-sectional study conducted on 148 subjects (mothers of children with cystic fibrosis and asthma hospitalized in Masih Daneshvari Hospital) during 2008-2010. Data were collected using a questionnaire for demographic characteristics, sleep quality and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Pittsburgh sleep quality index questionnaire (PQSI) was developed by Dr. Buysse and colleagues at the University of Pittsburgh’s Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic in the late 1980s. The PSQI was created after observing that most patients with psychiatric disorders had sleep disorders as well. Also, required data regarding the pulmonary function of patients was extracted from their medical records. In this study, high levels of anxiety and depression and poor sleep quality requiring clinical intervention were seen in 37.2%, 29.1% and 39% of mothers, respectively. A significant association was detected between sleep quality and depression-anxiety (P-value<0.005). Also, depression-anxiety was significantly correlated with number of children and smoking (P-value<0.005). A total of 20% of mothers suffering from depression and 14.3% of mothers with anxiety disorder had a history of cigarette smoking (P-value<0.005). No significant association was found between substance abuse and occupation with depression-anxiety. Susceptibility was only correlated with anxiety (P-value<0.005). Our study showed a significant association between sleep quality and depression-anxiety in mothers of children suffering from cystic fibrosis and asthma. Greater attention should be paid to prevent development and aggravation of these conditions in susceptible mothers who are the main care taker of their sick child with chronic diseases.