title: Psychosocial assessment and intervention at initial diagnosis.
abstract: Advances in the long-term survival and possible cure of the child with cancer have challenged pediatric professionals to no longer view this child as terminally ill, but rather as a developing person with a future. The time of initial diagnosis presents the family with coping tasks which, once mastered, lay the ground work for future adjustment and, hopefully, the child's eventual return to good health. A multidimensional psychosocial assessment can be used to identify strengths and difficulties. A range of psychosocial interventions helps children and families with the coping tasks of this difficult but challenging experience.
authors.affiliation: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York City, N.Y.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Adams-Greenly
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D002666:Psychology, Child