PSYCHOSOCIAL AND FAMILY FUNCTIONING IN CHILDREN WITH SICKLE-CELL SYNDROME AND THEIR MOTHERS

Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare the psychiatric functioning of 61 sickle cell youth and their families with nondiseased sibling controls. Method: Functioning assessed by multiple informants included indices of behavioral, cognitive, and family/interpersonal functioning, self-esteem, life events, coping strategies, temperament, adaptive behavior, and parental psychopathology. Results: Key findings were that sickle cell patients evidenced more depressive symptoms and associated attributional style, and externalizing behavioral difficulties than did nondiseased siblings. With age, sickle cell youth evidence increasing adaptive behavior deficits and internalizing symptoms. Illness severity was related to symptoms of internalizing behavior and fewer daily living skills. Associations were found between maternal and child coping. Conclusions: It is recommended that psychiatric consultations rountinely be conducted with these children, particularly at times of family stress and developmental transitions. Psychiatric interventions should focus on ameliorating emotional difficulties via enhancing adaptive coping strategies.