Posttraumatic stress symptom (PTSS) and posttraumatic growth (PTG) in parents of childhood, adolescent and young adult patients with high-grade osteosarcoma.

BACKGROUND

Posttraumatic stress symptom (PTSS) and posttraumatic growth (PTG) were surveyed in parents of childhood, adolescent and young adult patients with high-grade osteosarcoma.

METHODS

A questionnaire survey was performed in parents of patients with osteosarcoma (51 families). The Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) and posttraumatic growth inventory (PTGI) were employed for the evaluation of PTSS and PTG, respectively. The mean scores were compared with those in preceding studies employing the same scales. In addition, the correlation between the IES-R and PTGI scores was investigated in the parents.

RESULTS

Fifty-eight subjects of 34 families (30 fathers and 28 mothers) replied to the questionnaire. The mean IES-R score in the parents was 18.5, which was higher than that in patients with osteosarcoma (9.7) in our previous study. The mean PTGI score in the parents was 44.9, which was higher than that in university students (33.9) reported by Taku et al. A positive correlation was noted between the IES-R and PTGI scores in the parents.

CONCLUSIONS

The PTSS level tended to be higher in the parents rather than in patients with osteosarcoma. The PTG level increased as the PTSS level rose in the parents.