Background: Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a disease that leads to muscle weakness and significantly affects the lives of both patients and caregivers. This study aims to compare quality of life, caregiver burden, symptoms of depression and anxiety, life satisfaction, and mental well-being between parents of children with SMA and those of healthy children. Methods: This cross-sectional study included parents of children under 18 years old, both healthy and diagnosed with SMA. The participants completed the WHOQOL-BREF, Zarit Caregiver Burden Scale (ZCBS), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), and the Flourishing Scale (FS). In addition, the relationships among these measures were analyzed. Results: Our study showed that the parents of children with SMA had significantly higher scores across all subscales of the WHOQOL-BREF (p = 0.004, p = 0.009, p = 0.007, p < 0.001) and the HADS depression subscale (p = 0.005). However, no significant differences were found between the groups in terms of the ZCBS, the HADS anxiety subscale (p = 0.802), SWLS (p = 0.251), or FS (p = 0.929) scores. Additionally, the ZCBS and HADS anxiety scores were significantly higher among parents of children with SMA type 1 compared to those with type 3 (p = 0.010 and p = 0.037, respectively). Lastly, a moderate positive correlation was found between the ZCBS and the HADS anxiety subscales (r = 0.632, p < 0.001). Conclusions: This study highlights the decline in quality of life and increased depression symptoms among parents of children with SMA, suggesting the need for psychiatric evaluation and additional support for those caregivers.
Abstract Background To describe in a pediatric patient with ADHD and behavioral dysregulation a clinically significant case of risperidone-induced nocturnal enuresis. Case Presentation Due to ongoing aggression and emotional lability, a 10-year-old boy diagnosed with combined-type ADHD and persistent behavioral dysregulation was treated with long-acting methylphenidate and subsequently risperidone (0.5–1 mg/night). The patient started risperidone and soon after developed frequent nocturnal enuresis. A thorough medical assessment ruled out organic causes. Behavioral interventions were ineffective. After discontinuing risperidone, the enuresis resolved but returned upon rechallenge, suggesting a likely causal relationship. Switching to aripiprazole resulted in clinical improvement free from enuresis recurrence. Conclusions Temporally linked to risperidone initiation, the patient’s nocturnal enuresis resolved upon discontinuation and re-emerged upon rechallenge. Transitioning to aripiprazole provided good behavioral control with a more favorable side effect profile. In children, risperidone can cause nocturnal enuresis, a side effect that is often underreported but can seriously affect quality of life and treatment compliance. During antipsychotic treatment, clinicians should actively monitor for urinary symptoms and, when needed, consider pharmacological alternatives. This case emphasizes the need for tailored, side-effect-conscious strategies in pediatric psychopharmacology.
