Increased behavioural problems associated with corticosteroid use in children with nephrotic syndrome: a Southeast Asian perspective

INTRODUCTION: The study was performed to determine the psychological problems in children with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (INS) while they were on steroid therapy, as compared to healthy children.

METHODS: This prospective cohort study was conducted in a paediatric clinic of a tertiary hospital. Parents of the participants in the INS group and control group (comprising children without chronic illness) completed questionnaires using the Child Behavioural Checklist (CBCL). The CBCL measures a range of age-specific emotional and psychological problems, including internalising and externalising domains. Analyses of the CBCL scores between groups were done using Mann-Whitney U test.

RESULTS: A total of 140 children were recruited with an equal number in the INS and control groups. There was a significant difference in the mean total CBCL scores between the INS group and the control group, specifically in the withdrawal, somatic, anxious and aggressiveness subdomains. Similar findings were demonstrated in correlation between total psychological problems and corticosteroid dosage. In the INS group, steroid dose and cushingoid features were found to have a significant positive association with internalising psychological problems.

CONCLUSION: Children with INS on corticosteroid treatment showed an increase in internalising and externalising scores, as compared to healthy children.