AUTHOR=Xu Gang , Hao Fuchun , Zhao Weiwei , Zhao Peng , Qiu Jiwen 

TITLE=Long-term psychological intervention for parents of children with prolonged disorders of consciousness: a pilot study

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Psychology

VOLUME=Volume 14 - 2023

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1212014

DOI=10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1212014

ISSN=1664-1078

ABSTRACT=Background: Children with prolonged disorders of consciousness experience severe intellectual and behavioral disabilities that will last for decades or even a lifetime. Parents generally experience severe anxiety, stress, sadness, or family conflicts. This causes a burden on children, families, and society.Psychological interventions targeting parents using online conversations provide an opportunity to improve the overall well-being of the parents, their children, and the family as a whole.Methods: A total of 13 patients completed the protocol. Six were girls (46.2%), the mean age was 4.5 ± 3.0 years, and the length of time before emergent from minimally consciousness state was 244 ± 235 days. A staff member with psychological counseling qualifications implemented all psychological interventions. Regular online psychological interventions were performed annually before and after discharge. Evaluation data were collected before discharge and at 1 and 3-5 years post-discharge. Results: With the extension of intervention time, the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale-21, and the Parenting Sense of Competence Scale scores showed significant improvement (p<0.05), while the Revised Scale for Caregiving Self-Efficacy scores did not. With the extension of intervention time, the Strengths and DifficultiesQuestionnaire (Total Difficulties scores, TD) scores showed significant improvement (p<0.05), while the scores did not after one year compared with before intervention. The Index of Child Care Environment evaluation scores declined significantly (p<0.05).of consciousness performed at least once per year resulted in significant improvements in negative parental emotions, parental self-efficacy, and emotional and behavioral problems in their children.However, the childcare environment continued to decline.