title: Psychosocial distress and functioning of Greek youth with cystic fibrosis: a cross-sectional study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To assess psychosocial functioning and distress of children and adolescents with cystic fibrosis compared to healthy controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-six patients with cystic fibrosis aged 8-18 years (24 boys, mean age ± SD: 11.5 ± 2.6 years) and 31 sex- and age-matched healthy control subjects (18 boys, mean age ± SD: 12 ± 2.5 years) were enrolled in the study. In order to assess the self-esteem, social adjustment, and family functioning of these young people, the Culture-free Self-esteem Inventory, the Social Adjustment Scale-Self-Report, and the Family Assessment Device were administered. Emotional/ behavioral problems were assessed through the Youth Self Report and the Child Behavior Checklist given to both the subjects and their parents.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No significant differences were found for self-esteem between the two study groups. Regarding social adjustment, children with cystic fibrosis reported significantly worse friendship and overall adjustment (P < 0.05). Moreover, no difference was found in the levels of family functioning between the two groups. No significant differences between the groups were found in emotional/ behavioral problems from the self-reports. On the contrary, parents of children with cystic fibrosis reported significantly higher levels of withdrawal/ depression, thought problems, and delinquent behavior (P ≤ 0.01) as compared to controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Children and adolescents with cystic fibrosis appear to be a psychosocially vulnerable group. A biopsychosocial approach should emphasize the assessment and treatment of the psychosocial distress of these patients alongside multiple somatic treatments.
authors.affiliation: Department of Child Psychiatry, Athens University Medical School, Aghia Sophia Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Konstantina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kostakou
authors.affiliation: Department of Child Psychiatry, Athens University Medical School, Aghia Sophia Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Giannakopoulos
authors.affiliation: Department of Child Psychiatry, Athens University Medical School, Aghia Sophia Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Stavroula
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Diareme
authors.affiliation: Department of Child Psychiatry, Athens University Medical School, Aghia Sophia Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Chara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tzavara
authors.affiliation: Cystic Fibrosis Unit, Aghia Sophia Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Stavros
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Doudounakis
authors.affiliation: Department of Child Psychiatry, Athens University Medical School, Aghia Sophia Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Stelios
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Christogiorgos
authors.affiliation: Athens University Medical School, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Chryssa
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bakoula
authors.affiliation: Department of Child Psychiatry, Athens University Medical School, Aghia Sophia Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Gerasimos
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kolaitis
keywords: Children and adolescents; Cystic fibrosis; Family functioning; Psychopathology; Self-esteem; Social adjustment