[Parent-child psychotherapeutic management in pediatric and neonatal intensive care]

In spite of medical and nursing staff competence, as well as the quality of technology, paedriatric and neonatal Intensive Care Unit (I.C.U.) are still dependent on the patient for setting up diagnosis and cares guidance. Parents, by their relation with both child and staff, can amplify or reduce feelings of despair or helplessness which seems to mark the reanimation of some children. Isolating the child from his parents with the aim to reduce tensions which are supposed to be able to slow or prevent him from being cured, proved to generate troubles at term. A psychologist working in paediatrics I.C.U. is needed in difficult situations expressed by patient symptoms or the feeling of such a situation by parents or staff. Psychologic therapy of the child and his parents have been instored and performed during the whole period of stay in the I.C.U. and that whatever the age or consciousness of the child. In spite of the vicissitudes of such taking in charge, it permit to restore a necessary continuity in patient life history and his parental's relationship.