Anxiety, Depression, and Quality of Life in Caregivers of Children with Cleft Lip and Palate: A Systematic Review

Cleft Lip and Palate (CL/P) is the most common craniofacial malformation in the oral cavity, with a prevalence of “1 to 2in 1,000 live births worldwide. Parents with CL/P children are more prone to experience emotional disorders, especially depression, and have higher child-related stress than the parents of normal children. Due to the effect of the mental status of parents on children, the assessment of the psychological aspects of this problem and its effects on the patients and their parents is critical.

This systematic review was carried out to determine the quality of life (QoL) and emotional problems, including anxiety and depression, in the mothers of CL/P children. All the published studies were searched in three electronic databases, including MEDLINE, PubMed, and Web of Science, up to December 30, 2020, using the keywords "Orofacial Clefts” and “Cleft Lip and Palate” in combination with “Anxiety," "Stress," "Depression," and "Quality of Life” in addition to “Parents," "Mothers," "Fathers," and "Caregivers."

Finally, 29 articles met the eligibility criteria for this review. Due to the differences in health care and culture, controversial findings were obtained on the QoL of parents with CL/P children. Social support plays a vital role in the prevention, resolution, and treatment of psychological problems of parents with CL/P children. The majority of studies confirmed the higher levels of anxiety and depression in caregivers of children with CL/P than in normal individuals.

These findings emphasize the necessity of psychological screening in the first few months following the diagnosis to facilitate providing appropriate psychological support for parents with CL/P children.