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Psychological staging of pediatric cancer patients and their families
Author(s) -
AdamsGreenly Margaret
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/1097-0142(19860715)58:2+<449::aid-cncr2820581307>3.0.co;2-5
Subject(s) - medicine , psychological intervention , intervention (counseling) , perspective (graphical) , psychopathology , family therapy , socioeconomic status , pediatric cancer , disease , vulnerability (computing) , psychotherapist , cancer , psychiatry , psychology , population , computer security , environmental health , pathology , artificial intelligence , computer science
Advances in the treatment of childhood cancer have required a shift in our approach to the patient and family. Previously parents were helped to cope with the inevitable decline of the child's health over a rather short period of time; the child was acutely ill and crisis‐oriented intervention was utilized. Today, the family unit can be helped to maintain normal life amidst intensive medical treatment; the child is acutely ill at times, but also chronically ill, and even well. Crisis intervention is still appropriate, but so is education, ego‐supportive counseling, and insight‐oriented psychotherapy. Psychological staging of pediatrics cancer patients and their families is essential in order to properly anticipate psychological adjustment and plan appropriate interventions. Assessment and staging require a multi‐dimensional perspective including stage of disease, socioeconomic vulnerability, degree of psychopathology, family cohesion, and personal/family history. This article discusses this multi‐dimensional perspective and implications for intervention. Illustrative case material is utilized. Cancer 58:449‐453, 1986.