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Psychopathology and self-esteem in chronic illness
Prakash V Pradhan1, Henal Shah, Pradeep Rao
1Department of Psychiatry, KEM Hospital, Parel, Mumbai, India.
Indian Journal of Pediatrics
|March 29, 2003
Summary
Chronic illnesses like epilepsy and thalassemia significantly impact children's psychological health and self-esteem. Addressing these mental health aspects is crucial for comprehensive treatment and improving patient compliance.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Psychology
- Childhood Chronic Illness
- Mental Health Research
Background:
- Chronic illnesses present significant challenges to children's well-being.
- Assessing psychopathology and self-esteem is vital for understanding the holistic impact of chronic conditions on pediatric patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the levels of psychopathology and self-esteem in children diagnosed with chronic illnesses.
- To compare these psychological parameters between children with epilepsy and thalassemia.
Main Methods:
- An open study involving 60 children (30 with epilepsy, 30 with thalassemia) and their parents.
- Utilized the Childhood Psychopathology Measurement Schedule (CPMS) and Rosenberg's self-esteem scale for assessment.
- Data analyzed using Pearson's chi-square test and correlation coefficients.
Main Results:
- Children exhibited high psychopathology scores (thalassemia: 28.56, epilepsy: 26.06), with depression being a prominent subscale.
- Epilepsy group showed high behavioral problems, while the thalassemia group reported sadness and disinterest; irritability and panic were noted in epilepsy.
- Self-esteem was moderately affected in both groups, impacting treatment compliance in thalassemia patients.
Conclusions:
- Chronic illness detrimentally affects children's psychological health and self-esteem.
- Comprehensive pediatric care must integrate psychological support alongside physical treatment to enhance compliance and overall outcomes.