Trajectories of child and caregiver psychological adjustment in families of children with cancer.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To describe the trajectory of patient and caregiver mental health from diagnosis through the first year of treatment for pediatric cancer and assess whether rates of clinically relevant symptoms were elevated compared with norms. We examined mean levels of internalizing and externalizing symptoms and posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) in children with cancer, and depression, anxiety, and PTSS in caregivers during the first year of treatment; the proportion of patients and caregivers that scored in the clinical range at each time point; and the typical trajectory of symptoms in patients and caregivers and whether trajectories differed between individuals.

Method

Families (N = 159) of children newly diagnosed with cancer (Mage = 5.6 years; range = 2-18 years) parti

SUBMITTER: Katz LF 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6091867 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature