Melissa A Alderfer1, Larissa E Labay, Anne E Kazak. 1. The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA. alderfer@email.chop.edu
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether adolescent siblings of childhood cancer survivors experience posttraumatic stress (PTS). METHODS:Participants included 78 adolescent siblings of adolescent cancer survivors who completed self-report measures of anxiety, PTS, and perceptions of the cancer experience. RESULTS: Nearly half (49%) of our sample reported mild PTS and 32% indicated moderate to severe levels. One fourth of siblings thought their brother/sister would die during treatment; over half found the cancer experience scary and difficult. These perceptions were related to PTS. Siblings reported more PTS symptoms than a reference group of nonaffected teens but had similar levels of general anxiety. CONCLUSIONS:Levels of PTS are elevated for siblings of childhood cancer survivors. Thus, PTS may be a useful model for understanding siblings' long-term reactions to cancer. Future research and clinical efforts should consider the needs of siblings of childhood cancer survivors in a family context.
RCT Entities:
OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether adolescent siblings of childhood cancer survivors experience posttraumatic stress (PTS). METHODS:Participants included 78 adolescent siblings of adolescent cancer survivors who completed self-report measures of anxiety, PTS, and perceptions of the cancer experience. RESULTS: Nearly half (49%) of our sample reported mild PTS and 32% indicated moderate to severe levels. One fourth of siblings thought their brother/sister would die during treatment; over half found the cancer experience scary and difficult. These perceptions were related to PTS. Siblings reported more PTS symptoms than a reference group of nonaffected teens but had similar levels of general anxiety. CONCLUSIONS: Levels of PTS are elevated for siblings of childhood cancer survivors. Thus, PTS may be a useful model for understanding siblings' long-term reactions to cancer. Future research and clinical efforts should consider the needs of siblings of childhood cancer survivors in a family context.
Authors: E Anne Lown; Ann C Mertens; Rachael A Korcha; Wendy Leisenring; Melissa M Hudson; Thomas K Greenfield; Leslie L Robison; Lonnie K Zeltzer Journal: Psychooncology Date: 2012-06-27 Impact factor: 3.894
Authors: Matthew C Hocking; Wendy L Hobbie; Janet A Deatrick; Matthew S Lucas; Margo M Szabo; Ellen M Volpe; Lamia P Barakat Journal: Clin Neuropsychol Date: 2011-07-04 Impact factor: 3.535
Authors: Melissa A Alderfer; Caroline Stanley; Rowena Conroy; Kristin A Long; Diane L Fairclough; Anne E Kazak; Robert B Noll Journal: J Pediatr Psychol Date: 2014-09-24
Authors: Matthew C Hocking; Anne E Kazak; Stephanie Schneider; Darlene Barkman; Lamia P Barakat; Janet A Deatrick Journal: Support Care Cancer Date: 2013-12-17 Impact factor: 3.603
Authors: David Buchbinder; Jacqueline Casillas; Kevin R Krull; Pam Goodman; Wendy Leisenring; Christopher Recklitis; Melissa A Alderfer; Leslie L Robison; Gregory T Armstrong; Alicia Kunin-Batson; Margaret Stuber; Lonnie K Zeltzer Journal: Psychooncology Date: 2010-10-22 Impact factor: 3.894