[Chronic disease and family problems: a descriptive model for the pediatrician]

Starting from Minuchin's system interaction model on so-called psychosomatic families, and based on theories about coping with serious life events, the tasks are described that have to be faced by families with a severe ill or handicapped child. From clinical psychological practice it is learned that the majority of the families can cope adequately with the illness of their child. In a few families however serious problems emerge that impede the growth and development of the sick child. Characteristics of these families are elaborated into a model that may serve the pediatrician in the early diagnosis of these high-risk families.