Psychological problems and quality of life in children with thalassemia.
OBJECTIVE
The study is aimed to assess psychological problems and quality of life (QOL) in children with thalassemia.


METHODS
Thirty-nine children (8-16 yr) with transfusion dependent thalassemia attending day care services for blood transfusion were assessed for psychological problems using the Childhood Psychopathology Measurement Schedule and QOL was assessed using the EQ-5D.


RESULTS
Forty-four percent of the children had psychological problems and 74% had a poor QOL. Anxiety-related symptoms (67%), emotional problems, particularly depression (62%) and conduct problems (49%) were the main findings. The children were most likely to report impaired QOL due to severe difficulties in pain/discomfort (64%) dimension, followed by depression and mobility problems of equal severity (33%). The side effects of chelation were an independent predictor of psychological problems and impaired QOL. Also psychological problems were a significant predictor of impaired QOL.


CONCLUSIONS
The recognition and management of the psychological problems that accompany chronic physical illnesses including thalassemia would optimize treatment outcomes and QOL.
Shaligram
D
D
Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore, India. dpka.sha@gmail.com
Girimaji
S C
SC
Chaturvedi
S K
SK
D000293:Adolescent; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011788:Quality of Life; D012307:Risk Factors; D013789:Thalassemia / Q000523:psychology*