Psychopathology in pediatric bone marrow transplantation survivors and their mothers

Abstract

Background: Bone marrow transplantation (BMT) is used to treat various hematologic, oncologic and metabolic diseases. While the treatment is lifesaving, it is also associated with anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and psychosocial problems both in children and parents.

Methods: The aim of this study was to investigate the psychopathology in pediatric BMT survivors and their mothers compared with healthy controls. All children were interviewed using Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia to assess lifelong psychopathology. For the mothers, the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R) was used.

Results: In the BMT group, 17 children (63%) had at least one psychiatric disorder, while 15 (53.6%) did in the control group. Although lifelong prevalence of psychopathology in the BMT group did not differ significantly from the control group generally, anxiety disorders were significantly higher in the BMT group. When the SCL-90-R scores of the mothers were compared, Anxiety, Obsessive-Compulsive, Interpersonal Sensitivity and Phobic Anxiety were significantly higher in the mothers in the BMT group, indicating more difficulty in these areas.

Conclusions: Bone marrow transplantation is a significant stressor, especially for mothers. Clinicians should address the child and family as a whole in assessments and be aware of psychiatric symptoms in mothers and children who have had such a life-threatening condition.

Keywords: anxiety; bone marrow transplantation; child; mother; psychopathology.