Systematic review of psychosocial morbidities among bereaved parents of children with cancer.
The objective of this review was to comprehensively summarize existing studies utilizing validated instruments to measure psychosocial outcomes among bereaved parents of children with cancer. This population has increased risks of anxiety, depression, prolonged grief, and poor quality of life. Parental morbidity is associated with psychiatric co-morbidities, prior loss, economic hardship, duration, and intensity of child's cancer-therapy, perceptions of medical care, child's quality of life, preparedness for and location of the child's death. Rigorous, prospective research is needed to identify risk-groups, define outcomes, and design interventions which will improve parental outcomes after the death of a child due to cancer.
Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Seattle Children's Hospital, Seattle, Washington 98105, USA. abby.rosenberg@seattlechildrens.org
Abby R
AR
Rosenberg
K Scott
KS
Baker
Karen
K
Syrjala
Joanne
J
Wolfe
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006117:Grief; D017051:Hospice Care / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D016239:MEDLINE; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors