Posttraumatic stress in infants and preschoolers with cancer.

OBJECTIVE

This study is the first to assess posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in young children with cancer and to examine individual, medical, and parent-related determinants.

METHODS

Forty-eight patients with cancer, ages 8-48 months, were assessed in an average of 15 months after their diagnosis, using mothers as informants to complete the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Semi-Structured Interview and Observational Record for Infants and Young Children. Additionally, mothers and the attending pediatric oncologist completed questionnaires on various determinants of child PTSD.

RESULTS

Nine children (18.8%) met the age-appropriate criteria for full PTSD proposed by Scheeringa et al., and 20 children (41.7%) met criteria for partial PTSD. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that higher child age at diagnosis (odds ratio=1.11) and maternal PTSD severity (odds ratio=1.14) increased the risk of full or partial PTSD in children.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides evidence for a substantial prevalence of PTSD in young children with cancer and identifies important risk factors.