Treatment Adherence and Psychological Wellbeing in Maternal Carers of Children with Phenylketonuria (PKU).

ABSTRACT: Phenylketonuria (PKU), a rare metabolic disorder, causes cognitive impairment unless treated with a strict, protein-restricted diet, but few studies have examined the relationship between treatment compliance and parental wellbeing. In the present study, 46 primary caregivers of children with PKU completed measures of psychological distress, parenting stress (related to caring for a child with an illness), resilience, perceived social support and child dependency. Treatment adherence was assessed using the proportion of blood phenylalanine concentrations within target range in the preceding year. Results indicated that 59% of caregivers showed clinical levels of psychological distress, which was predicted by their parenting stress and resilience. Whilst the proportion of blood phenylalanin

SUBMITTER: Medford E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5740045 | biostudies-literature | 2017

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature