Feasibility and Preliminary Outcomes from a Pilot Study of a Brief Psychological Intervention for Families of Children Newly Diagnosed with Cancer

Abstract

The pilot data are supportive of the value and challenges of developing evidence-based family interventions in pediatric psychology.

Psychological effects of hematopoietic SCT on pediatric patients, siblings and parents: a review

“…63 SCCIP-ND is a three session cognitive-behavioral program for parents of children recently diagnosed with cancer, and it attempts to intervene early in the cancer experience to decrease traumatic stress symptoms by identifying beliefs regarding cancer and cancer treatment and how the cancer experience may affect family functioning. 64 Results indicate that both interventionists and parents found SCCIP-ND to be helpful, the topics were appropriate, and the amount of time required to participate was acceptable. 64 Further, parents' scores on state anxiety decreased after participation in SCCIP-ND compared with the control group.…”

“…64 Results indicate that both interventionists and parents found SCCIP-ND to be helpful, the topics were appropriate, and the amount of time required to participate was acceptable. 64 Further, parents' scores on state anxiety decreased after participation in SCCIP-ND compared with the control group. Parents in the SCCIP-ND group also reported decreased post-traumatic stress symptoms after participation in SCCIP-ND, whereas, parents in the control group showed increased post-traumatic stress symptoms from baseline to follow-up testing.…”

“…Parents in the SCCIP-ND group also reported decreased post-traumatic stress symptoms after participation in SCCIP-ND, whereas, parents in the control group showed increased post-traumatic stress symptoms from baseline to follow-up testing. 64 SCCIP-ND shows promise in decreasing both anxiety and post-traumatic stress symptoms in parents with children newly diagnosed with cancer and may serve as a useful tool in developing a similar intervention for parents of children referred for HSCT.…”

Eficacia de intervenciones psicológicas dirigidas a promover el ajuste de niños con cáncer y de sus padres: una revisión

“…This latter group received either standard care (Hoekstra-Weebers, Heuvel, Jaspers, Kamps & Slip, 1998;Kazak et al, 2005;Sahler et al, 2005;Streisand, Rodrigue, Houck, Graham-Pole & Berlant, 2000), a psychological placebo (Hinds et al , 2000, Schwartz & Drotar, 2004, or remained on the waiting list without treatment (Butler et al, 2008;Kazak et al, 2004). Six studies used a pre-post design without control groups (Barakat et al, 2003;Barrera, Rykov & Doyle, 2002;McCaffrey, 2006;Svavardottir & Sigurdardortti, 2005;Thygeson, Hooke, Claspsaddle, Robbins & Moquist, 2010;Valencia et al, 2006).…”

“…Six studies used a pre-post design without control groups (Barakat et al, 2003;Barrera, Rykov & Doyle, 2002;McCaffrey, 2006;Svavardottir & Sigurdardortti, 2005;Thygeson, Hooke, Claspsaddle, Robbins & Moquist, 2010;Valencia et al, 2006). 42.85% of the reviewed articles focused on interventions only for parents or caregivers (Hoekstra-Weebers et al, 1998;Kazak et al, 2005;Sahler et al, 2005, Schwartz & Drotar, 2004Streisand et al, 2000;Svavardottir & Sigurdardortti, 2005), while 35.71% were intended only for children / adolescents (Barakat et al, 2003;Barrera et al, 2002, Butler et al, 2008Hinds et al, 2000, McCaffrey, 2006. The remaining 21.43% approached both cohorts (parents and children), with joint or separate sessions (Kazak et al, 2004;Thygeson et al, 2010, Valencia et al, 2006.…”