A pilot study comparing traumatic stress symptoms by child and parent report across pediatric chronic illness groups

Researchers have recently used a framework of traumatic stress to describe the psychological functioning of children experiencing a chronic illness and their families; however, few studies are available directly comparing symptoms across disease groups. This study compared traumatic stress symptoms of youth being considered for solid organ and bone marrow transplantation, youth diagnosed with human immunodeficiency virus, youth diagnosed with sickle cell disease and their parents. Correlates of traumatic stress across these populations were also examined.

Participants included 64 youth and caregiver dyads with previously scheduled appointments at 1 of 3 specialty clinics. Parents completed measures of family demographics, traumatic stress symptoms, and child functional status. Youth (n = 45) and parents each completed self-report and parent-proxy measures of youth traumatic stress symptoms.

Ten percent of youth by self-report, 18% of youth by parent-proxy report, and 13% of caregivers described symptoms suggestive of posttraumatic stress disorder. Parents of pediatric transplant self-reported greater symptoms than caregivers of youth with human immunodeficiency virus and sickle cell disease (p < .05). Although child functional impairment did not predict child symptoms, a trend was found where parents experiencing more traumatic stress symptoms themselves reported their children experienced greater symptoms by parent-proxy report (p =.07).

Findings suggest that although most children and parents across disease groups report subclinical levels of traumatic stress symptoms, traumatic stress symptoms may be especially salient for families of pediatric transplant candidates. Although interventions are currently available to treat posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms, they will likely need to be individualized to meet the needs of specific disease groups.