Trauma and personality correlates in long-term pediatric cancer survivors.
To explore the relationship between PTSD and trauma-spectrum symptoms, including personality and functional correlates, in long term pediatric cancer survivors (N = 40), we assessed these constructs with a structured interview for PTSD, a clinical interview, and self-report questionnaires. Thirty-five out of 40 participants (88%) currently met at least one trauma symptom at a functionally significant level. These survivors demonstrate high levels of restraint and low levels of distress, representative of a repressive adaptive style. After more than 5 years since treatment completion, the relatively high levels of current trauma-spectrum symptoms may reflect the long-term deleterious impact of childhood cancer.
Erickson
S J
SJ
Department of Psychology, Logan Hall, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA. erickson@unm.edu
Steiner
H
H
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D010551:Personality; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000209:etiology*; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*