title: Psychopathology and self-esteem in chronic illness.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate psychopathology and self-esteem in chronic illness.
  
  
  METHODS
  60 children and their parents were selected to participate in an open study. 30 children had epilepsy and the other 30 had thalassemia. Both the groups consisted of children randomly selected from the Epilepsy Clinic and Thalassemia Centre respectively, of a teaching general hospital. The children and their parents were interviewed and also rated on Childhood Psychopathology Measurement Schedule (CPMS) and Rosenberg's self esteem scale. The data was analysed using Pearson's chi square test and Pearson's correlation coefficient.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The children were seen to have high psychopathology on CPMS (average score: thalassemia group = 28.56, epilepsy group = 26.06). Depression was the subscale with the maximum elevation in both groups. Behavior problems were high in epilepsy. In addition, sadness and disinterest in life were common symptoms in thalassemia while irritability and panic were high in epilepsy. Children with epilepsy perceived a change in lifestyle after diagnosis. Self-esteem was moderately affected in both groups and this affected compliance with treatment in thalassemia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Chronic illness affects psychological health and self esteem in children. Hence, in addition to the physical aspects it is necessary also, to focus on the psychological health of the child in order to ensure compliance and thus treat the child comprehensively.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, KEM Hospital, Parel, Mumbai, India.
authors.forename: Prakash V
authors.initials: PV
authors.lastname: Pradhan
authors.forename: Henal
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.forename: Pradeep
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.forename: Dhananjay
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ashturkar
authors.forename: Pradnya
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ghaisas
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D012649:Self Concept; D013789:Thalassemia / Q000523:psychology*