آلکسیتیمیا در کودکان مبتلا به سرطان و خواهر و برادر آنها

Objective The purpose of this study was to examine the levels of alexithymia in children with cancer, in siblings of children with cancer, and in healthy controls. Method In order to compare the groups the Alexithymia Questionnaire for Children was used. The study group consisted of 97 children with cancer, 95 siblings, and 151 healthy controls. Results The highest level of alexithymia was reported by children diagnosed with cancer, followed by their siblings. Healthy controls reported the lowest level of alexithymia. No gender differences were observed. The intensity of cancer was a significant predictor of the alexithymia score, with patients with the most severe cancers reporting the highest levels of alexithymia. No differences were found between the patients with moderately severe and least severe cancers. Conclusions Not only children with cancer, but also their siblings show significantly more alexithymia than their healthy counterparts. Professionals should aim at preventing or reducing the psychological problems in both patients and their siblings. Gadget timed out while loading

Childhood cancer is the leading cause of death caused by disease in humans under the age of 15. Yet, the estimated rate of 5-year survival of all childhood cancer patients is approximately 70 to 80% [1] and [2]. Because of the psychological stress caused by their cancer and its treatment, these children can experience many negative psychological side-effects, such as posttraumatic stress symptoms [3] or alexithymia [4] and [5]. Alexithymia is an inability to identify and communicate one's own emotion experiences. Primary alexithymia refers to a personality disorder, but secondary alexithymia emerges as a reaction to severe and prolonged stress, as in the case of a medical illness [5]. Both types of alexithymia in turn contribute to the development of various internalizing symptoms such as depression and anxiety [6]. Consequently, childhood cancer patients are at higher risk of long-term psychosocial and academic problems than their peers. Although increasingly more attention is given to the psychosocial functioning of children with cancer, other family members also suffer psychologically [7]. Siblings, especially, are often overlooked, whereas the illness of their brother or sister negatively affects them, too [8]. Siblings of childhood cancer patients experience significantly more psychosocial distress and show more adjustment and behavioral problems than healthy controls [9]. Woodgate [10] interviewed siblings of children with cancer and reported – among other problems – an “enduring sadness”. Nevertheless, Aldelfer and colleagues [8] note that most studies in this area still show methodological limitations (e.g., small sample sizes or quantitative data), so more research is needed. As childhood cancer can be extremely disruptive of daily family life and emotional well-being, it is important to examine emotional functioning not only in children with cancer, but also in their siblings, so that professionals can give adaptive support, resulting in long-lasting psychological adjustment and better coping skills in both groups. The objective of the study presented here was to examine alexithymia in childhood cancer patients, their siblings, and healthy control children. We expected children with cancer and children who have a brother or sister with cancer to show more emotional problems than healthy controls, as measured by an alexithymia questionnaire developed especially for children [11]. We also expected the intensity of the disease to correlate positively with the level of alexithymia in children with cancer.