Evaluation of anxiety disorder and post-trauma stress disorder related to the covid-19 pandemic in parents of children with primary immunodeficiency

It was aimed to investigate the COVID-19-related anxiety and post traumatic stress levels of the parents of children with primary immunodeficiency (PI) in this study. The study included parents of children with primary immunodeficiency (PI) and followed up in the Department of Allergy and Immunology of Children's Health and Diseases of Akdeniz University Faculty of Medicine. As a control group; parents of children, age and gender matched with the study group were included in the study. Sociodemographic characteristics, sleep habits, social media using habits were recorded during the interview with the parents. A COVID information questionnaire, created by researchers was used to determine the information levels of parents about COVID-19. Generalised Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) Questionnaire and PTSD Checklist–Civilian Version were used to evaluate COVID-19-related anxiety and post traumatic stress levels of parents. When the anxiety and post traumatic stress levels of study and control groups were compared; anxiety and post traumatic stress levels of the study group were found to be significantly higher than the control group. When 2 groups were compared in terms of sleep-related parameters; sleep duration of the study group was significantly lower than the control group. The sleep quality of the study group was also lower in the study group, however the difference did not reach a significant level. In the patient group, there was a statistically significant correlation between anxiety and post traumatic stress levels. In addition, in the patient group; there was a negative correlation between the duration of the sleep and the anxiety and post traumatic stress levels. However, these correlations were not determined in the control group. In conclusion, parents of children with primary immunodeficiency were found to have higher COVİD-19-related anxiety and post traumatic stress levels, compared to the control group. These findings suggest that parents of children with primary immunodeficiency are at risk in terms of mental health during the pandemic process. In this respect, especially in the ongoing pandemic process and other possible pandemic processes, professional support for the parents of these children is of great importance.