Adaptive Functioning and Psychosocial Problems in Children with Beta Thalassemia Major

Abstract

BACKGROUND:Beta thalassemia major is considered one of the serious health problems and the commonest hemoglobinopathy in Egypt that creates a burden not only on health system but also on the affected families and children who become vulnerable to emotional, social, psychological and behavioural problems.AIM:This study was designed to assess the psychosocial burden and the adaptive functioning in children with beta-thalassemia major.SUBJECTS AND METHODS:A group of 50 children with thalassemia major and 50 normal children matched for age and sex were included in a case-control study. Vineland Adaptive Functioning Scale was used to assess the adaptive functions; while the Pediatric Symptom Checklist (PSCL) was used to assess psychosocial morbidity.RESULTS:A group of 50 children aged 5-17 years old with thalassemia major, their mean age was 11.05 ± 3.8, showed a statistically significant lower total adaptive behaviour score and communication subscale score. All the mean values of adaptive behaviour for cases and controls were within the average values. Results from the PSCL revealed no significant difference between mean scores of children with thalassemia and controls. A score of attention domain was markedly higher in children with thalassemia. Internalising behaviour was the most dominant as it was detected in 10% of the patient group.CONCLUSION:Thalassemic patients had a relatively mild affection for adaptive and psychosocial functioning that can be explained by social and medical support they receive, which may increase their competence and psychological wellbeing.

Psychological morbidity among children with transfusion dependent β-thalassaemia and their parents in Sri Lanka

“…This confirms findings of a previous study done among 60 Iranian children with thalassaemia major who reported higher rates of behavioural problems in emotional, conduct, hyperactivity, peer relationship, social and all states compared to healthy children [21]. Similar findings were reported in few other small-scale studies [22,23]. However, ours is the largest of such studies.…”

Behavior rating and intelligence testing in primary school children exposed to multiple adverse experiences

“…From a list of public primary schools in this district, a representative number of public schools (4 schools) were randomly chosen. In each school, children who had any chronic disease or any disability known to affect cognitive performance or impacting behavior were excluded [14,15] (e.g., children with hearing or visual defects, children with history of neonatal traumatic brain injury or meningitis, children with endocrinal diseases or hormonal disturbances, or children with mental affection or motor disability). Then, a systematic random sampling of students from grade 3 to grade 5 was performed.…”

Assertiveness in the patients with thalassaemia major: A qualitative study

“…One of the chronic and genetic blood diseases is thalassaemia (Elzaree et al., 2018 ). In this disease which is more prevalent in the Mediterranean countries (Behnam Vashani et al., 2015 ), the patient needs repeated blood transfusion and use of iron chelating drugs to survive (Ishfaq et al., 2018 ).…”

“…In Iran, there are about 25000 people with this disease (Razzazan et al, 2014 ). These patients have several physical problems including severe chronic anaemia, hepatosplenomegaly, bone changes especially in face and head (Zarea et al., 2012 ), facial pigmentation, growth failure (Elzaree et al., 2018 ) and pubertal delay or failure (Ozturk et al., 2017 ). In addition to the physical problems, patients also suffer from the psychosocial problems such as depression, anxiety, anger, limitation in the social communication (Ozturk et al., 2017 ), social isolation, aggression, decrease in self‐esteem and being different (Ishfaq et al., 2018 ).…”