PSYCHOSOCIAL AND FAMILY FUNCTIONING IN CHILDREN WITH SICKLE-CELL SYNDROME AND THEIR MOTHERS

Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare the psychiatric fu nctioning of 61 sickle cell youth and their families with nondiseased sibling controls. Method: Functioning assessed by multiple informants included indices of behavioral, cognitive, and family/interpersonal fu nctioning, self-esteem, life events, coping strategies, temperament, a daptive behavior, and parental psychopathology. Results: Key findings were that sickle cell patients evidenced more depressive symptoms and associated attributional style, and externalizing behavioral difficult ies than did nondiseased siblings. With age, sickle cell youth evidenc e increasing adaptive behavior deficits and internalizing symptoms. Il lness severity was related to symptoms of internalizing behavior and f ewer daily living skills. Associations were found between maternal and child coping. Conclusions: It is recommended that psychiatric consult ations rountinely be conducted with these children, particularly at ti mes of family stress and developmental transitions. Psychiatric interv entions should focus on ameliorating emotional difficulties via enhanc ing adaptive coping strategies.