An examination of the symptoms of anxiety and parental attitude in children with hemophilia

Abstract

Background/aim: Hemophilia is an inherited disease with serious repercussions. Psychiatric symptoms are frequently seen in children and adolescents with hemophilia. The aim of this study was to assess symptoms of anxiety in children with hemophilia and parental attitude towards children with hemophilia.Materials and methods: 42 boys were assessed according to child and adolescent psychiatry. Anxiety symptoms and parental attitude were obtained by the State-Trait Anxiety Scale, the Self-Report for Childhood Anxiety Related Disorders (SCARED) and the Parent Attitude Research Instrument (PARI). Results:The mean age was 11.6 ± 2.5 (range; 7-16). State anxiety scores (44.02 ± 6.9) were higher than trait anxiety scores (32.7 ± 7.5). The most interesting results were high scores related to overprotective mothering (47.9 ± 9.7) and the application of strict discipline (39.4 ± 9.1). The total SCARED scores obtained were (23.25 ± 11.3). Conclusion:Assuring a high quality of life is important for children and adolescents with chronic illness. Quality of life is negatively affected by psychiatric symptoms (e.g. anxiety symptoms, depression, intra-familial stress symptoms) in children with hemophilia. This study suggests that high anxiety scores and problems related to parental attitude can be seen in children and adolescents with hemophilia. These problems caused by parental attitude and anxiety symptoms should be considered in the treatment of hemophilia.

Mental health disorders in haemophilia: Systematic literature review and meta‐analysis

“…Anxiety was reported in 13 of 28 studies including 1843 PWH . This comprised of 6 paediatric studies, 4 adult studies, two studies did not report the age, and 1 study combined results from paediatric and adult patients.…”

Treatment of hemophilia: A qualitative study of mothers’ perspectives

“…The mothers may feel hypervigilance, as expressed by Therese, who could never turn off her phone. Parents of children with life‐threatening conditions report hypervigilance, and in some cases, mothers may be overprotective for their child with hemophilia …”

“…Parents of children with life-threatening conditions report hypervigilance, 28 and in some cases, mothers may be overprotective for their child with hemophilia. 29 A process of normalization 30 has been described previously in families with children with hemophilia. 31 A normalization process means reconstructing family life and accepting the new situation as normal, 32 as the mothers in this study who accepted they could not travel "all over the world."…”

Practical aspects of psychological support to the patient with haemophilia from diagnosis in infancy through childhood and adolescence

“…Parents’ fear and attempts to prevent bleeding may lead to improper management of their own anxiety, resulting in dysfunctional educational models of overprotection that prevent the child's necessary exploration of his environment. Additionally, excessive limits will generate frustration, and low levels of self‐confidence and self‐esteem in the child . Therefore, parents or caregivers should receive guidance on respecting the child's developmental needs in their efforts to manage their own emotional needs.…”

“…Learning to administer this intravenous, complex and painful treatment is reported by parents as one of the most critical, challenging and stressful issues . Central venous catheter implantation is an alternative also causing confusion for parents, as it facilitates administration but may also involve severe complications such as infections .…”