title: Psychological interventions for mental health disorders in children with chronic physical illness: a systematic review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Children with chronic physical illness are significantly more likely to develop common psychiatric symptoms than otherwise healthy children. These children therefore warrant effective integrated healthcare yet it is not established whether the known, effective, psychological treatments for symptoms of common childhood mental health disorders work in children with chronic physical illness.
  
  
  METHODS
  EMBASE, MEDLINE, PsycINFO and CINAHL databases were searched with predefined terms relating to evidence-based psychological interventions for psychiatric symptoms in children with chronic physical illness. We included all studies (randomised and non-randomised designs) investigating interventions aimed primarily at treating common psychiatric symptoms in children with a chronic physical illness in the review. Two reviewers independently assessed the relevance of abstracts identified, extracted data and undertook quality analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ten studies (209 children, including 70 in control groups) met the criteria for inclusion in the review. All studies demonstrated some positive outcomes of cognitive behavioural therapy for the treatment of psychiatric symptoms in children with chronic physical illness. Only two randomised controlled trials, both investigating interventions for symptoms of depression, were found.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is preliminary evidence that cognitive behavioural therapy has positive effects in the treatment of symptoms of depression and anxiety in children with chronic physical illness. However, the current evidence base is weak and fully powered randomised controlled trials are needed to establish the efficacy of psychological treatments in this vulnerable population.
authors.affiliation: UCL Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Sophie
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1076-7112
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bennett
authors.affiliation: UCL Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Roz
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Shafran
authors.affiliation: Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Coughtrey
authors.affiliation: UCL Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.affiliation: UCL Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
authors.forename: Isobel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Heyman
mesh_terms: D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D002648:Child; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000523:psychology*; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Adolescent Health; Child Psychiatry; Child Psychology; General Paediatrics; Paediatric Practice