Coping and family functioning predict longitudinal psychological adaptation of siblings of childhood cancer patients

OBJECTIVE: To assess associations of coping and family functioning with psychosocial adjustment in siblings of pediatric cancer patients at 1, 6, 12, and 24 months after diagnosis. METHODS: Eighty-three siblings (ages 7-19 years) participated. Effects on anxiety, quality of life, behavioral-emotional problems, and emotional reactions to the illness were investigated. Data-analysis was performed with multilevel mixed modeling. RESULTS: Psychosocial functioning was impaired at 1 month but ameliorated over time. Adjustment problems were associated with high family adaptation and cohesion, older age, and female gender. Lower anxiety, insecurity, loneliness, and illness involvement were related to siblings' ability to remain optimistic. Insecurity and illness involvement were positively related to reliance on the medical specialist and a tendency to seek information about the illness. CONCLUSIONS: Siblings of pediatric cancer patients are most affected by the illness in the first months. Children at risk may be identified according to sibling age and gender and according to long-term family adaptation processes and sibling coping abilities

A two-session psychological intervention for siblings of pediatric cancer patients: a randomized controlled pilot trial

BACKGROUND: Since siblings of pediatric cancer patients are at risk for emotional, behavioral, and social problems, there is considerable interest in development of early psychological interventions. This paper aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of a two-session psychological intervention for siblings of newly diagnosed pediatric cancer patients. METHODS: Thirty siblings age 6-17 years were randomly assigned to an intervention group or an active control group with standard psychosocial care. The manualized intervention provided to siblings in the first 2 months after the cancer diagnosis of the ill child included medical information, promotion of coping skills, and a psychoeducational booklet for parents. At 4 to 6 weeks, 4 months, and 7 months after the diagnosis, all siblings and their parents completed measures (from standardized instruments) of social support, quality of life, medical knowledge, posttraumatic stress symptoms, and anxiety. RESULTS: At follow-up siblings in the intervention group showed better psychological well-being, had better medical knowledge, and reported receiving social support from more people. However, the intervention had no effects on posttraumatic stress symptoms and anxiety. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this pilot trial suggest that a two-session sibling intervention can improve siblings' adjustment, particularly psychological well-being, in the early stage after a cancer diagnosis. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00296907

Quality of life in siblings of autistic patients Qualidade de vida em irmãos de autistas

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the Quality of Life (QoL) among siblings of autistic patients. METHODS: Casuistic: siblings of autistic patients (n = 31) and, as a control group, siblings of patients with speech disorder (n = 30). Inclusion criteria: age between 7 and 11 years old; absence of current mental disorder; regular attendance to school. Exclusion criteria: antecedents of clinical or psychiatric diseases; disabilities (visual, auditive or motor); antecedents of cognitive and/or intelligence disabilities. Instruments included a questionnaire which evaluated the quality of life in a subjective way. RESULTS: it was observed worse QoL among siblings of autistic patients (p = 0.000). CONCLUSION: The hypothesis that the quality of life was compromised in children (aged 7 to 11) by the presence of an autistic sibling was confirmed, and was worse than that of siblings of children with speech disorders.<br>OBJETIVO: Avaliou-se a Qualidade de Vida (QV) em irmãos de autistas. MÉTODOS: casuística: irmãos de autistas (n = 31) e irmãos de crianças com problemas de fala (n = 30), como controles. Critérios de inclusão: idade entre 7 e 11 anos; ausência de transtorno mental atual; freqüentar escola regular. Critérios de exclusão: antecedentes de doenças clínicas ou psiquiátricas; deficiências visual, auditiva ou motora; deficiências cognitivas e/ou de inteligência. Utilizou-se questionário que avalia a qualidade de vida de forma subjetiva. RESULTADOS: houve prejuízo na qualidade de vida de irmãos de autistas, em relação ao grupo controle (p = 0,000). CONCLUSÃO: Confirmou-se a hipótese de que a QV estaria comprometida, em crianças de 7 a 11 anos, pela presença de um irmão(ã) com autismo e seria pior do que a de irmãos de crianças com problemas de fala