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Risk factors for psychological and psychosomatic symptoms among children with malignancies

Kenichi Maeda1, Daisuke Hasegawa1, Kevin Y Urayama2

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, St. Luke's International Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.

Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health
|November 7, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Children with cancer experiencing psychological and psychosomatic symptoms (PPS) requiring medication are more likely to be older, receive opioids, or undergo hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). These findings highlight key risk factors for PPS in pediatric oncology patients.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Oncology
  • Child Psychology
  • Hematology

Background:

  • Increasing survival rates in pediatric malignancies necessitate greater focus on quality-of-life.
  • Psychological and psychosomatic symptoms (PPS) are a significant concern for hospitalised children with cancer.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify factors associated with psychological and psychosomatic symptoms (PPS) requiring medication in children undergoing cancer treatment.
  • To inform preventive strategies for PPS in pediatric oncology.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of 190 patients aged 2-18 years diagnosed with malignancies.
  • Data collected from St. Luke's International Hospital between 2003 and 2013.
  • PPS defined by prescription of psychotropic agents during hospitalisation.

Main Results:

  • 30% of patients (56/190) received psychotropic agents for PPS, including insomnia and anxiety.
  • Multivariable analysis identified hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) (OR, 5.21), older age (12-18 years vs. 2-5 years, OR, 3.74), and opioid use (OR, 7.15) as independent risk factors.
  • Etizolam was the most prescribed psychotropic agent.

Conclusions:

  • Older age, HSCT, and opioid use are significant risk factors for PPS in children with malignancies.
  • Targeted preventive measures are recommended for pediatric cancer patients with these identified risk factors.
  • Further research into the specific mechanisms and interventions for PPS in this population is warranted.
Abstract

Keywords:
childhood cancerhaematopoietic stem cell transplantationpsychological and psychosomatic symptom

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