Hospital Contacts for Psychiatric Disorders in Parents of Children With Cancer in Denmark

Background: Having a child diagnosed with cancer is a devastating experience that may affect parents' mental health. We aimed to assess the risk of hospital contacts for psychiatric disorders in parents of children with cancer.

Methods: We conducted a nationwide population-based cohort study using Danish registry data. Parents of children diagnosed with cancer between 1982 and 2014 (n = 6689 mothers, n = 5509 fathers) were matched with comparison parents of cancer-free children (n = 67 544 mothers, n = 55 756 fathers). We used Cox proportional hazards models to estimate the risk of hospital contacts for any psychiatric disorder and specific disorders. Cox models were also used to investigate sociodemographic and cancer-related risk factors for psychiatric disorders.

Results: Incidence rates of hospital contacts for any psychiatric disorder were 426 per 100 000 person-years in mothers of children with cancer and 345 per 100 000 person-years in comparison mothers. For fathers, the respective incidence rates were 260 and 262 cases per 100 000 person-years. Compared with parents of cancer-free children, mothers of children with cancer were at an increased risk of hospital contacts for any psychiatric disorder (hazard ratio = 1.23, 95% confidence interval = 1.12 to 1.36), whereas no elevated risk was seen in fathers (hazard ratio = 0.99, 95% confidence interval = 0.87 to 1.13). Among mothers, risks were particularly elevated for affective and stress-related disorders. Parents of deceased children and children diagnosed at a younger age were at particular risk of hospital contacts for psychiatric disorders.

Conclusion: Hospital contacts for psychiatric disorders were overall rare. Health-care professionals should draw attention to subgroups of vulnerable parents to meet their needs of support and adequate treatment.