Cultural Therapeutic Awareness and Sickle Cell Anemia

Abstract

Sickle cell anemia is a hereditary blood disorder in which abnormal red blood cells damage the cerebrovascular system as well as organs such as the liver and spleen. Children with sickle cell anemia manifest high mortality rates, depression, pain, strokes, and social maladjustment. Interventions often challenge the family's beliefs and attitudes. A cognitive behavioral approach, the Health Belief Model, was offered as a strategic option in working with African American clients diagnosed with sickle cell anemia. Two descriptive case studies were presented. Whereas one case illustrated a lack of a coordinated system of care, the other demonstrated the effectiveness of a multidisciplinary system of services. The purpose of this article is to present a brief description of the medical, neurological, and psychoeducational problems caused by sickle cell anemia and to suggest that services be provided by culturally competent, systems-oriented professionals.

Prevalence of psychological symptoms among adults with sickle cell disease in Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Ghana

“…Similar to previous research, HbSS participants outnumbered HbSC participants in any research sample and also experienced more symptoms than HbSC participants. Given that HbSS is a more severe form of the disease than the HbSC genotype [5, 25], and given that disease severity determines the degree of psychological symptoms the patient experiences [25, 27], it is not surprising this current finding agrees with previous research. The severer the disease, the more psychological symptoms the patient reports or experiences.…”

“…The study was conceptualized based on the existing theoretical view that women experience and display more psychological symptoms than males [24] and HBSS persons experience more pain and severe psychological distress than HBSC persons [5, 25–27]. …”

Concept Analysis and the Advance of Nursing Knowledge: State of the Science

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Gender Differences in Sickle Cell Crises: Implications for Genetic Counselling and Psychotherapy

“…Some of the potential contributing causes of depression and anxiety in SCD include the chronicity of the illness; unpredictability of crises; chronic pain; overwhelming nature of medical complications, including anemia, fatigue, growth retardation, physical deformities, leg ulcers, renal failure, strokes, and substantially reduced life expectancy; and racial prejudice and stereotyping. SCD may result in social derision, disability, and financial stress [27], as well as stigmatization for pseudo-addiction to opioid analgesics [28]. One study found that adults with SCD had lower self-esteem than those with HIV/AIDS or cancer [14].…”