The association between duration of illness and mental health disorders among children with systemic lupus erythematosus

Background. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a long-term autoimmune disease that affects multiple organs, often requires prolonged treatment, and is characterized by remission and flare condition. Its chronic nature may impact children’s mental health. This study proposed to explore whether the duration of illness is linked to mental health disorders in children with SLE. Materials and methods. This cross-sectional study included 62 children aged 13–18 (median of 15) years with SLE at the Ngoerah Hospital, Bali, between January 2022 and March 2025. Mental health was assessed using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21). Data were analyzed using chi-square for bivariate and logistic regression for multivariate to examine the association between duration of illness and mental health disorders. Other factors were also analyzed. Results. Mental health disorders were found in 32.3 % of participants. Of these, 8.1 % had depression, 4.8 % experienced anxiety, 1.6 % experienced stress, and 17.7 % experienced co-occurring symptoms of stress, and/or anxiety, and/or depression. There was no significant association between duration of illness and mental health disorders (p = 0.247). Children with active disease had a much higher risk of mental health issues (p = 0.007; odds ratio 47.3, 95% confidence interval 2.814–795.105). Conclusions. The duration of illness was not related to mental health disorders in children with SLE. In contrast, active disease was strongly associated with mental health disorders. These findings highlight the need for mental health screening in children with SLE.