Psychosocial aspects in pediatric rheumatology.
PURPOSE OF THIS ARTICLE: To review recent publications examining psychosocial adjustment to and coping with a pediatric rheumatic disease.


RESULTS
The articles discussed illustrate important areas of psychological vulnerability and potential risk for disturbance in affected children and adolescents within their environment.


CONCLUSIONS
Children and adolescents with rheumatic diseases and their families face a multitude of psychosocial challenges. Some of these are related to the illness directly, some to treatment. There is need for more systematic research, including multicenter studies, to identify psychosocial needs of patients and their families.
Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, USA. Daniel.Kietz@chp.edu
Daniel
D
Kietz
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D010372:Pediatrics; D012216:Rheumatic Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D012219:Rheumatology / Q000639:trends*; D012917:Social Adjustment