Psychological development of the child with leukemia: a review.

With improvements in prognosis for children with leukemia, there has been a corresponding increase in degree of adverse psychological effects on the patient and his family. This review considers (1) the methods of coping adopted by parents, siblings, and the patient and (2) the possibility of damage to normal intellectual growth following the type of medical treatment involved. Implications of previous research in terms of practical help for the families and theoretical issues regarding normal brain development are discussed.