title: Prevalence of Psychiatric Symptoms in ALL Patients during Maintenance Therapy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cancer diagnosis may cause deep emotional and affective problems in patients and their families. Nowadays, however, despite its rising prevalence, cancer is no longer synonymous with death. Given the significance of emotional well-being in cancer patients, we decided to assess the frequency of psychological problems in seven to seventeen year-olds with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Our sample included 42 children and adolescents with ALL referred to pediatric hematology department of Dr. Sheikh hospital, who were put under maintenance course of the treatment. Psychiatric disorders such as anxiety, depression and behavioral disturbances were examined by using RCMAS, CDI and SDQ questionnaires respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The entire population showed depressive symptoms.59.5% of patients (25 person) suffered from anxiety and 26.2% (11 person) had behavioral problems. No significant relation was found between depressive symptoms, and age (p=0.77), sex (p=0.97), length of disease (p=0.50), and type of treatment (p=0.064). Anxiety did not show any significant relation with age (p= 0.63), sex (p= 0.32), length of disease (p= 0.16) and treatment type (p= 0.064).Similarly behavioral disturbances did not indicate any suggestive relation with age (p= 0.20), sex (p= 0.56), length of disease (p= 0.81) and type of treatment (p= 0.19).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggest a high prevalence of psychiatric disorders in children and adolescents with ALL. It is strongly recommended, therefore, that besides somatic symptoms, careful attention be paid to psychological disorders. This can prevent rapid development of the disease reduce treatment costs, and improve the quality of life for both patients and their families.
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor of Pediatric Hematology & Oncology, faculty of medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Farhangi
authors.affiliation: Associated Professor of Pediatric Hematology & Oncology, faculty of medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Badiei
authors.affiliation: Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Research Center, Ibn-e-Sina Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Moharreri
keywords: Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; Adolescents; Anxiety; Behavioral Disorders; Children; Depression