Progeria: medical aspects, psychosocial perspectives, and intervention guidelines

This article discusses progeria, a rare genetic childhood disorder that invariably results in the individual's death during early adolescence. The article begins by describing the major medical aspects of progeria. This is followed by a discussion of the psychosocial implications of the disorder with particular emphasis upon grief-triggered reactions. The article concludes with an overview of psychosocial intervention guidelines for caregivers who work with families of dying children and adolescents.