Stress-related mental disorders in childhood cancer survivors

This report evaluated the association between surviving pediatric cancer and receiving a diagnosis of a stress-related mental disorder (SRMD) (i.e., post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), acute stress disorder, or adjustment disorders).

The dataset comprised a cohort of Medicaid eligible children, ages birth to 15 years during baseline years 1996-2001 and followed at least 1 year until age 19 years or the end of 2003. Childhood cancer survivors (N = 390) identified from the SC Central Cancer Registry were frequency matched within age groups at each baseline year to children with no history of malignancy (N = 1,329). Survival curves and cumulative incidence of SRMD were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for pediatric cancer survival and selected covariates.

The 8-year incidence of SRMD was 18.6% (95% CI: 12.47, 24.8) among childhood cancer survivors and 7.3% (5.0, 9.6) among children with no history of malignancy, HR = 3.22 (2.17, 4.76). Significant covariates for this group included race, sex, and previous mental disorder, adjusted HR = 3.00 (2.02, 4.45). Significant predictors among the childhood cancer survivors included cancer type, age group, treatment, and previous mental disorder.

Given the potential benefit of interventions for those with prior psychopathology, that children are less likely to verbalize emotional problems, and the detrimental implications of undiagnosed mental disorders, the health evaluations of childhood cancer patients and the follow-up visits for the survivors should incorporate assessment for mental disorders, especially SRMD.