146 - Parental Perceptions of Mental Health and Utility of Mental Health Resources Provided in PICU Admissions

Publication Number: 1136.146

Jasmine Preston Turner, Children's National Health System, Washington, DC, United States; Mekela Whyte-Nesfield, Children's National Health System, Washington, DC, United States; Terry Dean, Children's National Health System, Washington, DC, United States; Eduardo A. Trujillo Rivera, Children's National Health System, Rockville, MD, United States; Carrie Tully, Children's National Health System, Washington, DC, United States; Ryan M. Maddock, Children's National Health System, Washington, DC, United States

Background: Parents of children admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) experience high rates of anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Limited data describe how parents perceive their own mental health, its effect on their child's recovery, and the utility of mental health resources offered during hospitalization.

Objective: To describe parental perceptions of their own mental health, its perceived impact on their child's health, and preferences for mental health support during a PICU admission.

Design/Methods: We are conducting a single-center cross-sectional quantitative study at a quaternary care pediatric hospital. Parents of PICU patients completed questionnaires assessing mental health history, perceived impact of mental health, and attitudes toward available mental health resources, as well as validated screening tools (Personal Health Questionnaire [PHQ-8], Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 [GAD-7], Adverse Childhood Experiences [ACE] Questionnaire, and Brief Resilience Scale). Preliminary univariate analyses were performed using Pearson's Chi-squared test.

Results: Eleven parents participated. Most (90.9%) reported their child's PICU stay affected their own mental health, associated with lower resilience (p = 0.10), higher ACEs (p = 0.28) and anxiety (p = 0.46). Nearly half (45.5%) had prior mental health diagnoses, linked to higher depression (p = 0.016) and anxiety (p = 0.022); those with prior treatment (63.6%) also had greater anxiety (p = 0.033). High-risk ACE exposure correlated with prior diagnoses (p = 0.059) and stronger perception that parental mental health affects the child's well-being (p = 0.18). Low resilience was associated with this perception (p = 0.10). Although 81.8% recognized their mental health impacts their well-being, only one sought support. Over half (54.5%) rated the hospital's behavioral health resource guide as low benefit (score 1-3/10), particularly among those with low resilience (p = 0.070), high ACEs, or moderate-to-severe anxiety or depression (p > 0.99).

Conclusion(s): Preliminary data reveal psychological burden among parents of PICU patients despite small sample size. Prior mental health diagnoses and high ACE scores predict caregiver distress, while resilience appears protective. Despite recognizing their own mental health needs, few parents seek support and perceive limited benefit from existing resources. Ongoing enrollment will improve study power. Parent-informed, tailored approaches are needed to improve accessibility and engagement with mental health support in the PICU.

Study inclusion and exclusion criteria and participant demographics.
Table A outlines eligibility criteria for parent participants of pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) patients aged 0-18 years. Table B summarizes demographics of enrolled parents (N = 11).

Univariate analysis of parental psychosocial factors and mental health outcomes during a child's PICU admission.
Tables C and D display associations between parental mental health history, symptom burden, and perceptions of mental health impact by standardized measures: GAD-7 (Anxiety) and PHQ-8 (Depression).

Univariate analysis of parental psychosocial factors and modifiable risk and protective outcomes during a child's PICU admission.
Tables E and F display associations between parental mental health history, symptom burden, and perceptions of mental health impact by standardized measures: ACE Questionnaire (Adverse Childhood Experiences) and Brief Resilience Scale (Resilience).