A psychological study of 20 children with cystic fibrosis revealed frequent emotional complications among the patients and their mothers. Physical and social restrictions, the rigorous medical regimen, concerns about illness and death, and uncertainties of the future can create anxiety and depression in child and parent alike. Inadequate resolution of emotional conflict in either may lead to maladaptive behavior and resistance to treatment which can significantly impede the progress of therapy. Recent advances in detection and management of cystic fibrosis have significantly improved the af¬ fected individual's chances of sur¬ vival beyond childhood years. With early recognition of the disease the patient and his family often become involved in a program of intensive treatment that continues for the re¬ mainder of his life.13 The daily care at home necessitates large expendi¬ tures of time and effort for the pa¬ tient and his parents. The financial burden can be considerable, result¬ ing often in the depletion of savings and the foregoing of luxuries and vacations. Siblings frequently must defer their needs and desires as the patient becomes the focus of atten¬ tion. In the more severe cases, re¬ current hospitalization of the sick child for complications disrupts family routine and creates emotional crises. Finally, despite the most ade¬ quate care, the course of the disease may be inexorable, with death usu¬ ally intervening in early adult life.4Within this context, it is under¬ standable that psychological compli¬ cations and problems in adaption to the illness occur for the patient and the family. These in turn, may in¬ tensify the stress for everyone and create additional difficulties for the physician in the total management of the case.Awareness of types of emotional strain experienced by these children and their famihes can be of use to the pediatrician in helping to avert potential problems which may seri¬ ously impair therapeutic effective¬ ness and the patient's well being. It is the purpose of this study to convey our impressions of attitudes, feelings, and reactions experienced by a representative group of chil-
