Psychological Effects and Quality of Life in Parents and Children with Jia-Associated Uveitis
Silvana Guerriero,
Roberta Palmieri,
Francesco Craig,
Francesco La Torre,
Valeria Albano,
Gianni Alessio,
Massimo Corsalini,
Paola Lecce,
Andrea De Giacomo
Affiliations
Silvana Guerriero
Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neurosciences and Sense Organs, Institute of Ophthalmology, University of Bari, Piazza Giulio Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy
Roberta Palmieri
Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neurosciences and Sense Organs, Institute of Child Neuropsychiatry, University of Bari, Piazza Giulio Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy
Francesco Craig
Department of Culture, Education and Society, University of Calabria, 87036 Cosenza, Italy
Francesco La Torre
Department of Pediatrics, Pediatric Rheumatology Center, “Giovanni XXIII”, Pediatric Hospital, Via Giovanni Amendola 207, 70126 Bari, Italy
Valeria Albano
Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neurosciences and Sense Organs, Institute of Ophthalmology, University of Bari, Piazza Giulio Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy
Gianni Alessio
Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neurosciences and Sense Organs, Institute of Ophthalmology, University of Bari, Piazza Giulio Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy
Massimo Corsalini
Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine (DIM)-Section of Dentistry, “Aldo Moro” University of Bari, 70124 Bari, Italy
Paola Lecce
Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neurosciences and Sense Organs, Institute of Child Neuropsychiatry, University of Bari, Piazza Giulio Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy
Andrea De Giacomo
Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neurosciences and Sense Organs, Institute of Child Neuropsychiatry, University of Bari, Piazza Giulio Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy
Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is a chronic inflammatory disease common in children and young adults. Uveitis is the most frequent serious extra-articular JIA manifestation and can lead to severe ocular complications, vision loss, and permanent blindness. This study aims to evaluate the psychological condition and the quality of life of children affected by JIA associated with uveitis (JIA-U) and the repercussion of this condition on parents. Thirty children and adolescents with active uveitis (Uveitis group) and comorbid joint symptoms of JIA were referred to the Unit of Ophthalmology, Giovanni XXIII Hospital of Bari, and 30 age-matched healthy controls (Healthy group) were enrolled with their parents. Four questionnaires were administered: Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL), Parent Stress Index in Short Form (PSI), Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL), and Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations (CISS). The data were collected from February 2021 to December 2021. No significant differences between the two groups in CBCL, PSI, or CISS tests were shown (p > 0.05). Conversely, significant differences between the two groups were observed in the PedsQL (p < 0.05). This study shows how several ocular complications, recurrent eye examinations, and the rigor of long-term treatment may negatively influence health-related quality of life in children with JIA-U.
