Abstract Details

Title Increased Anxiety, Depression and Suicidal Ideation in Children with Neuromyelitis Optica

Topic Child Neurology and Developmental Neurology

Presentation(s) P3 - Poster Session 3 (5:30 PM-6:30 PM)

Poster/Presentation
Number 6-002

Background Psychiatric comorbidities are found at significantly higher rates in adults with neuromyelitis optica (NMO), when compared to the general population. Miao et al demonstrated that 27.69% of adults had anxiety and 24.62% had depression. Additionally, Villa et al found that 40% of patients had suicide risk. The prevalence of these comorbidities in children with NMO is not well understood.

Objective To examine the prevalence of anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation among pediatric patients diagnosed with NMO.

Design/Methods An IRB-approved retrospective chart review for pediatric patients meeting 2018 international diagnostic criteria for NMO and diagnosed between 2006 and 2020 was completed by two independent examiners. The data was harvested with EPIC SlicerDicer software at Baylor College of Medicine/Texas Children’s Hospital. The following was collected: demographics, age and year of diagnosis, serostatus, and at least one listing within the patient’s medical record regarding suicidality, anxiety and/or depression. The prevalence of anxiety, depression and suicidality was compared to the general pediatric population reported by the CDC and peer reviewed publications.

Results A total of 30 patients with pediatric onset NMO were identified, 23.3 % (7) male and 76.7% (23) female. The mean age of diagnosis was 12.47 years (SD +/- 4.5). 43.3% (13) of patients were seropositive, and 56.7% (17) were seronegative. Of the 30 patients, those that had at least one report of the following conditions within their medical record were as follows: 23.3% (7) anxiety, 33.3% (10) depression, and 13.3% (4) suicidal ideation after initial diagnosis of NMO.

Conclusions Compared to the adult population diagnosed with NMO, pediatric patients diagnosed with NMO are less likely to have suicidal ideation. However, when comparing with the general pediatric population, children diagnosed with NMO are 3.3 times more likely to indicate anxiety, 10.4 times more likely to indicate depression, and 7.3 times more likely to indicate suicidal ideation.

Authors/Disclosures
Margaret Codispoti PRESENTER	Ms. Codispoti has nothing to disclose.
Alfred Balasa, MD	Dr. Balasa has nothing to disclose.
Nikita Shukla, MD (BCM)	The institution of Dr. Shukla has received research support from Roche.
Timothy E. Lotze, MD, FAAN (Texas Children's Hospital)	Dr. Lotze has received personal compensation in the range of $5,000-$9,999 for serving as an Expert Witness for Department of Justice VICP. The institution of Dr. Lotze has received research support from NIH. The institution of Dr. Lotze has received research support from National MS Society. The institution of Dr. Lotze has received research support from Sarepta Therapeutics. The institution of Dr. Lotze has received research support from PTC THERAPEUTICS. The institution of Dr. Lotze has received research support from Avexis. Dr. Lotze has received publishing royalties from a publication relating to health care.