Purpose

To ascertain whether young people with dystonia are more likely than the general population to have mental health and/or behavioural difficulties, and to explore factors that may contribute to these difficulties.

Method

Using a quasi-experimental design, 50 young people with dystonia aged 7–17 and their carers were recruited from the Evelina London Children's Hospital. Young people completed the Beck Youth Inventories and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Carers completed the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire-Parent version and the Paediatric Pain Profile. Important medical factors, such as age of onset, motor severity and manual function were obtained from medical records.

Results

One sample z tests showed young people with dystonia self-reported significantly higher levels of anxiety (p < .001) and prosocial difficulties (p < .01), with 48% experiencing clinically significant anxiety levels. They experienced significantly lower levels of anger, disruptive behaviour and conduct problems (all p ≤ .01). Carers reported significantly higher rates of emotional problems, hyperactivity and peer problems, and significantly lower prosocial behaviours (all p ≤ .01). Pearson's correlation coefficients showed lower levels of self-esteem were related to higher levels of anxiety (p = .015). High levels of pain were related to parent-rated conduct problems (p = .004). Age of dystonia onset and motor severity did not correlate with any of the psychological or behavioural measures.

Interpretation/conclusions

Our study suggests high rates of anxiety and behaviours that challenge in children with dystonia. Screening in movement clinics would be helpful in early identification and signposting for support.

中文翻译：

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肌张力障碍儿童的心理健康和行为：焦虑、挑战性行为以及与疼痛和自尊的关系

目的

确定患有肌张力障碍的年轻人是否比一般人群更可能出现心理健康和/或行为困难，并探索可能导致这些困难的因素。

方法

使用准实验设计，从 Evelina London Children's Hospital 招募了 50 名 7-17 岁的肌张力障碍年轻人及其照顾者。年轻人完成了贝克青年量表和优势与困难问卷。照顾者完成了优势和困难问卷 - 家长版本和小儿疼痛概况。从病历中获取重要的医学因素，例如发病年龄、运动严重程度和手部功能。

结果

一项样本 z 测试显示，患有肌张力障碍的年轻人自我报告的焦虑水平 ( p  < .001) 和亲社会困难 ( p  < .01) 显着升高，其中 48% 的人经历了临床上显着的焦虑水平。他们经历的愤怒、破坏性行为和行为问题的水平显着降低（所有p  ≤ .01）。照料者报告的情绪问题、多动症和同伴问题的发生率显着更高，亲社会行为的发生率显着降低（所有p ≤ .01)。Pearson 的相关系数表明，较低的自尊水平与较高的焦虑水平有关 (p = .015)。高度疼痛与父母评定的行为问题有关（p = .004）。肌张力障碍发作的年龄和运动严重程度与任何心理或行为措施无关。

解释/结论

我们的研究表明，肌张力障碍儿童的焦虑和行为挑战率很高。在运动诊所进行筛查将有助于早期识别和指示支持。