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Psychopathology in pediatric bone marrow transplantation survivors and their mothers
Aslı Sürer Adanir1, Gülseren Taşkiran2, Osman Alphan Küpesiz3
1Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Akdeniz University School of Medicine, Antalya, Turkey.
Insights
Pediatric bone marrow transplantation (BMT) survivors and their mothers experience significant psychological distress, particularly anxiety disorders. Mothers of BMT survivors showed higher rates of anxiety and obsessive-compulsive symptoms compared to controls.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Hematology
- Psychiatry
- Oncology
Background:
- Bone marrow transplantation (BMT) is a critical treatment for pediatric hematologic, oncologic, and metabolic diseases.
- BMT is associated with significant psychological distress, including anxiety, PTSD, depression, and psychosocial issues in both children and parents.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate psychopathology in pediatric BMT survivors and their mothers.
- To compare the mental health of BMT survivors and their mothers with healthy control groups.
Main Methods:
- Children were assessed for lifelong psychopathology using the Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia.
- Mothers completed the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R) to evaluate psychopathology.
Main Results:
- While overall psychopathology prevalence did not significantly differ between BMT survivors and controls, anxiety disorders were more common in BMT survivors.
- Mothers of BMT survivors reported significantly higher levels of anxiety, obsessive-compulsive symptoms, interpersonal sensitivity, and phobic anxiety.
Conclusions:
- BMT is a significant stressor, particularly impacting mothers' mental health.
- Clinical assessments should consider the entire family unit, recognizing potential psychiatric symptoms in both children and mothers post-BMT.
Background:
Bone marrow transplantation (BMT) is used to treat various hematologic, oncologic and metabolic diseases. While the treatment is lifesaving, it is also associated with anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and psychosocial problems both in children and parents.
Methods:
The aim of this study was to investigate the psychopathology in pediatric BMT survivors and their mothers compared with healthy controls. All children were interviewed using Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia to assess lifelong psychopathology. For the mothers, the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R) was used.
Results:
In the BMT group, 17 children (63%) had at least one psychiatric disorder, while 15 (53.6%) did in the control group. Although lifelong prevalence of psychopathology in the BMT group did not differ significantly from the control group generally, anxiety disorders were significantly higher in the BMT group. When the SCL-90-R scores of the mothers were compared, Anxiety, Obsessive-Compulsive, Interpersonal Sensitivity and Phobic Anxiety were significantly higher in the mothers in the BMT group, indicating more difficulty in these areas.
Conclusions:
Bone marrow transplantation is a significant stressor, especially for mothers. Clinicians should address the child and family as a whole in assessments and be aware of psychiatric symptoms in mothers and children who have had such a life-threatening condition.
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