The assessment of mental state of children treated for acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Eleonora Mess
Advances in Palliative Medicine 2003;2(1):9-22.
open access
Vol 2, No 1 (2003): Polish Palliative Medicine
Original articles
Published online: 2002-10-30
Abstract
This paper focuses on mental state in children recovered from acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). The
study aimed at the assessment of their negative emotions, in particular anxiety, as well as objective and
subjective indexes of health. A total of 31 children, that had been treated in the past for ALL, were
interviewed. Case records from the hospital, the interview questionnaires and standardized psychological
tests (adapted to the age of respondents) measuring the level of anxiety were analysed. In the majority of
children the level of anxiety was normal. However, many different psychological problems were found.
Survivors could not focus their attention for longer periods of time, experienced nervous exhaustion and
depression, behaved aggressively to close relatives. Many children suffered due to school phobia and were
uncertain about their relationship with peers. Both the level of anxiety and expression of other negative
emotions increased with the number of physical complications after anti-ALL therapy. Such complications
affected negatively their physical activity and achievements at school. It is suggested that the illness and
subsequent therapy can handicap education. The course of therapy had an influence on the mental state of
survivors; this effect was most clear in the tendency toward lowering of self-rating in children.
Abstract
This paper focuses on mental state in children recovered from acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). The
study aimed at the assessment of their negative emotions, in particular anxiety, as well as objective and
subjective indexes of health. A total of 31 children, that had been treated in the past for ALL, were
interviewed. Case records from the hospital, the interview questionnaires and standardized psychological
tests (adapted to the age of respondents) measuring the level of anxiety were analysed. In the majority of
children the level of anxiety was normal. However, many different psychological problems were found.
Survivors could not focus their attention for longer periods of time, experienced nervous exhaustion and
depression, behaved aggressively to close relatives. Many children suffered due to school phobia and were
uncertain about their relationship with peers. Both the level of anxiety and expression of other negative
emotions increased with the number of physical complications after anti-ALL therapy. Such complications
affected negatively their physical activity and achievements at school. It is suggested that the illness and
subsequent therapy can handicap education. The course of therapy had an influence on the mental state of
survivors; this effect was most clear in the tendency toward lowering of self-rating in children.
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