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Depressive Symptoms In Mothers Of Children With New-Onset Epilepsy: A Prospective Study, Mark Anthony Ferro

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Having a child diagnosed with a chronic illness such as epilepsy is a major source of stress for caregivers. Up to half of mothers of children with epilepsy are at increased risk for clinical depression and symptoms of maternal depression are associated with poorer health outcomes in these children. The purpose of this study was to: 1) estimate the prevalence and course of depressive symptoms over 24 months among mothers of children with new-onset epilepsy; 2) identify subgroups of mothers that share similar trajectories of depressive symptoms; and, 3) assess the family factors involved in the causal pathway between maternal …