Evolution of depression and quality of life in patients with diagnosis of familial mediterranean fever

Introduction and Objectives: Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is a disease which is inherited in case of attacks with fever, peritonitis, pleuritis, and erysipelas-like skin rash associated with arthritis. Disease, leads to compatibility problems, feelings of inadequacy and to the formation of some limitations in patient's lives. The aim of this study is to evaluate depression and life quality of the pediatric familial Mediterranean fever patients coming from Diyarbakır and nearby cities. Materials and Methods: This study was performed with 53 healthy children and 51 Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) patients diagnosed according to Tel-Hashomer criterias. The control group consists of children who applied to the general pediatric outpatient clinic for a routine check and without any illness. Socio-demographic data form, Quality of Life Scale for Children and Adolescents (SYK) and Children's Depression Inventory (CDO) were applied to the both control and patient group in order to find out their depression and life quality level. All participants were informed about the study and signed a consent form for attendance. Findings: There was no difference between the patient group and the control group in terms of age and gender. The average CDO score of the patients group was 11.6±5.5, while it was 6.2±4.7 for the control group. CDO score of the patient group were significantly higher than healthy control group (p=0.029). The average Health-Related Quality of Life Questionnaire for Children and Adolescents (SYK) score for the patient group was 85.0±8.4 and SYK score for the healthy control group was 103.1±9.5 the SYK scores of the patient group was significantly higher than the control group (p<0.001). Also have decreased the quality of life in patients with increasing AAA severity score (p=0.002). Quality of life of patients with arthritis was lower than artrit those without (p<0.001). The rate of depression in patients taking high doses of colchicine were higher Colchicine dosage, lower than usual, as it was classified as normal and higher than normal compared for the presence of depression (p <0.001). Compared with the scale of quality of life (SYK) was found to decrease in the dose increases the total quality of life scores (p=0.004). Conclusion: FMF increases the risk of depression and decreases the quality of life. The Familial Mediterranean fever, increases the concerns of children and adolescents, it tends to make the depression, reduce the quality of life and seems to negatively affect their social, emotional development and academic achievement. Keywords: Children, Adolescents, Familial Mediterranean fever, Depression, Quality of life