[Social functioning and psychopathologic risk factors in hemophilic children].
BACKGROUND
Children with hemophilia can experience problems with their mental health status and social functioning.


OBJECTIVE
To assess the mental health status of hemophilic children.


METHODS
Thirty four hemophilic children aged 5 to 13 years were studied. A translation of the special survey to assess mental health in children, denominated "Domingo" Mental Health Survey was applied. It consisted in animated cartoon questions related to the family, social and school life. According to the score obtained, children were classified as normal, doubtful or pathologic. The social functioning areas studied were family, school, relationship and emotional. Aggressiveness, depression/anxiety and rejection were the psychopathologic factors analyzed.


RESULTS
Forty four percent of hemophilic children were considered normal, 20% doubtful and 35% pathologic. According to the severity of the disease, 67% of children with severe, 57% with moderate and 45% with mild hemophilia, were considered abnormal. Aggressiveness was the main risk factor in the emotional and family area, depression/anxiety in the family and emotional area and rejection in the family area. Fifty six percent of children had abnormalities in their social functioning and the severity of the disease was a predisposing factor.


CONCLUSIONS
Psychopathologic factors in children with hemophilia appear mainly in the family environment.
Banco de Sangre del Estado Zulia, Venezuela.
Sandra
S
Sarmiento
Cecilia
C
Carruyo de Vizcaíno
Edgardo
E
Carrizo
Jennifer
J
Vizcaíno C
Melvis
M
Arteaga-Vizcaíno
Gilberto
G
Vizcaíno
D000293:Adolescent; D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D005195:Family Relations; D006467:Hemophilia A / Q000523:psychology*; D002836:Hemophilia B / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011599:Psychopathology; D012059:Rejection, Psychology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012919:Social Behavior