Related Experiment Videos

Psychological problems in children with cancer in the initial period of treatment

Maria Gerali1, Marina Servitzoglou, Dimitra Paikopoulou

  • 1Nursing Education Office, Faculty of Nursing, University of Athens, Athens, Greece.

Cancer Nursing
|June 18, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Children with cancer experience psychological issues during intensive treatment, influenced by age and cancer type. Early identification and tailored interventions are crucial for improving their well-being.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Oncology
  • Child Psychology
  • Clinical Psychology

Background:

  • Increasing survival rates in childhood cancer necessitate understanding psychological burdens.
  • Refined cancer treatments highlight the need to assess young patients' mental health.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the development of psychological problems in children undergoing intensive cancer treatment.
  • To track psychological changes over the initial six months post-diagnosis.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective, comparative study of 132 children with cancer and 100 controls in Athens.
  • Utilized Rutter instruments for parental and teacher reports at multiple time points.
  • Assessed psychological symptoms at 1, 3, and 6 months from diagnosis.

Main Results:

  • Significant differences in psychological scores were observed in cancer patients over time (P < .001).
  • Cancer patients showed significantly higher psychological distress compared to controls (P < .00001 by parents, P < .001 by teachers).
  • Leukemia patients exhibited greater score reduction during treatment (P = .009).

Conclusions:

  • Parental reports indicate children with cancer develop psychological problems during intensive treatment.
  • Psychological problem development is influenced by patient age and cancer type.
  • Findings support targeted interventions for specific pediatric cancer patient groups.
Abstract

Related Concept Videos

Psychological and Sociocultural Causes of Schizophrenia01:29

Psychological and Sociocultural Causes of Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia, a complex psychiatric disorder, has been historically misunderstood. Early psychological theories attributed its origins to childhood trauma and unresponsive parenting. However, contemporary research largely rejects these notions, favoring the vulnerability-stress hypothesis. This model proposes that individuals with a genetic predisposition to schizophrenia may develop the disorder following exposure to significant environmental stressors. Notably, studies on high-risk...
Erikson's Theory on Socioemotional Development during Childhood01:28

Erikson's Theory on Socioemotional Development during Childhood

Erik Erikson, a stage theorist, adapted Freud's theory to emphasize social factors in personality development throughout life, a concept known as psychosocial development. Unlike Freud, who focused on early childhood, Erikson believed that personality evolves across eight life stages, each marked by a specific challenge or "crisis." Successful resolution of each stage fosters competence, while failure may lead to feelings of inadequacy.
The first four of Erikson's eight psychosocial stages...
Personality Disorders: Paranoid and Schizoid01:22

Personality Disorders: Paranoid and Schizoid

Personality disorders represent enduring cognition, affect, and behavior patterns that significantly deviate from societal norms. These maladaptive traits often lead to difficulties in various domains, including interpersonal relationships, occupational settings, and overall psychological well-being. Paranoid personality disorder and schizoid personality disorder are two distinct conditions marked by odd or eccentric behavior.
Paranoid Personality Disorder
Paranoid personality disorder is...
Socioemotional Development during Infancy01:30

Socioemotional Development during Infancy

Socio-emotional development in infancy is primarily shaped by early emotional responses and social connections, with temperament playing a central role. Temperament refers to the consistent patterns in an individual's emotional and behavioral responses, observable even in infancy. By examining temperament, researchers can better understand an infant's unique ways of interacting with the world, influencing subsequent personality and socio-emotional growth.
Primary Temperament Types
Stella Chess...
Treatment Strategies for Psychological Disorders01:24

Treatment Strategies for Psychological Disorders

Treatment approaches for psychological disorders fall into three main categories: psychological, biological, and sociocultural. Each approach targets different aspects of mental health, requiring varying levels of education and training.
Psychological therapies focus on modifying emotions, thoughts, and behaviors through talking, interpreting, listening, rewarding, challenging, and modeling. Clinical psychologists, counselors, and social workers commonly practice psychotherapy. Clinical...
Psychological Responses to Stress01:20

Psychological Responses to Stress

Psychological responses to stress encompass the various cognitive and emotional reactions individuals experience when faced with challenging or threatening situations, such as a job loss. Prolonged exposure to stressors can disturb emotional balance, increasing negative emotions (e.g., anxiety and sadness) and diminishing positive emotions (e.g., joy and satisfaction). These persistent emotional shifts are associated with an increased risk of both physical illness and mental health issues, such...