An interdisciplinary group for parents of children with hemangiomas

Parents are shocked by the unexpected appearance and growth of hemangiomas, the most common benign tumors of childhood, yet parents' psychosocial needs are largely ignored. A psychoeducational/self-help pilot group for parents is described in this article. The Mental Health Inventory and a 44-item questionnaire were used to gather pertinent biopsychosocial data. Parents were more distressed and had less of a sense of well-being than the general population. Medical complications were significantly associated with the couple's distress (P < 0.05). Parental perception of hemangiomal surface area or site was not correlated with parental distress. Therapists clinically assessed parental distress, presented coping strategies for parents and families, and discussed medical information about hemangiomas and normal childhood development.