Abstract
Objective Mothers of individuals with breath-holding spells (BHS) suffer more often from anxiety
and experience more stressors in their everyday life. The purpose of this study was
to examine the efficacy of psychoeducational intervention in reducing BHS and coping
with these spells.
Participants and Methods Mothers who have children with BHS were randomly assigned to one of the two groups:
an intervention group receiving psychoeducational therapy in addition to the routine
follow-up (n = 31) and a control group who did not receive psychoeducation in their routine follow-up
(n = 28). The data collected at the beginning of the study and at the end of 3rd and
6th months about the frequency of the spells per month, maternal anxiety, and depression
levels and mothers' perceived self-knowledge about coping BHS of both groups were
compared.
Results Mothers in psychoeducation group, compared with controls, improved significantly
on state anxiety, depression, perceived anticipation anxiety level for BHS of their
children and self-knowledge about coping with the spells.
Conclusion The intervention program had a positive effect on anxiety-depression levels of the
mothers and the frequency of BHS among the children. The possible link between emotional
and autonomic dysregulation in children with BHS and maternal mental health were discussed.
Keywords
breath-holding spells - maternal anxiety - psychoeducation
