PURPOSE: The objective of this 4-year prospective study was to assess the psychological adjustment of children treated for cancer and their parents. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Children aged 2 to 12 years with cancer diagnosed and their parents and families (n = 39) were assessed immediately after their diagnosis and then annually for the next 4 years. At each assessment, the psychological adjustment of the children and their families was compared with the adjustment of a cohort of children and families in the general community (n = 49). RESULTS: Immediately after the diagnosis of cancer in the children, the children and their parents had significantly more psychological problems than children and parents in the community. However, at subsequent assessments, there was no difference in the number of psychological problems experienced by children and parents in the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: In the longer term, the prevalence of psychological problems experienced by children treated for cancer and their parents does not differ from that found in children and parents in the general community. Future research should give greater attention to other aspects of the lives of children treated for cancer and their parents, including their broader health-related quality of life.
PURPOSE: The objective of this 4-year prospective study was to assess the psychological adjustment of children treated for cancer and their parents. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Children aged 2 to 12 years with cancer diagnosed and their parents and families (n = 39) were assessed immediately after their diagnosis and then annually for the next 4 years. At each assessment, the psychological adjustment of the children and their families was compared with the adjustment of a cohort of children and families in the general community (n = 49). RESULTS: Immediately after the diagnosis of cancer in the children, the children and their parents had significantly more psychological problems than children and parents in the community. However, at subsequent assessments, there was no difference in the number of psychological problems experienced by children and parents in the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: In the longer term, the prevalence of psychological problems experienced by children treated for cancer and their parents does not differ from that found in children and parents in the general community. Future research should give greater attention to other aspects of the lives of children treated for cancer and their parents, including their broader health-related quality of life.
Authors: Taralee Hamner; Robert D Latzman; Natasha E Latzman; T David Elkin; Suvankar Majumdar Journal: Pediatr Blood Cancer Date: 2015-03-08 Impact factor: 3.167
Authors: Meredith Lutz Stehl; Anne E Kazak; Melissa A Alderfer; Alyssa Rodriguez; Wei-Ting Hwang; Ahna L H Pai; Alexandra Boeving; Anne Reilly Journal: J Pediatr Psychol Date: 2008-12-17
Authors: Cortney Wolfe-Christensen; Larry L Mullins; Terry A Stinnett; Melissa Y Carpentier; David A Fedele Journal: J Clin Psychol Med Settings Date: 2009-12
Authors: Regina M Myers; Lyn Balsamo; Xiaomin Lu; Meenakshi Devidas; Stephen P Hunger; William L Carroll; Naomi J Winick; Kelly W Maloney; Nina S Kadan-Lottick Journal: Cancer Date: 2014-01-28 Impact factor: 6.860