Does time heal all wounds? A longitudinal study of the development of posttraumatic stress symptoms in parents of survivors of childhood cancer and bereaved parents.

ABSTRACT:

Background

A lack of longitudinal studies has hampered the understanding of the development of posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) in parents of children diagnosed with cancer. This study examines level of PTSS and prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) from shortly after diagnosis up to 5 years after end of treatment or child's death, in mothers and fathers.

Methods

A design with seven assessments (T1-T7) was used. T1-T3 were administered during treatment and T4-T7 after end of treatment or child's death. Parents (N = 259 at T1; n = 169 at T7) completed the PTSD Checklist Civilian Version. Latent growth curve modeling was used to analyze the development of PTSS.

Results

A consistent decline in PTSS occurred during the first months after diagnosis; therea

SUBMITTER: Ljungman L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5033007 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature