Self-esteem, depression and anxiety among Swedish children and adolescentson and off cancer treatment

Self-esteem, depression and anxiety were investigated in 51 Swedish childre n and adolescents, 8-18 y, on (n = 16) and off (n = 35) cancer treatment. T he self-report measures "I Think I Am" (ITIA), the Children's Depression In ventory (CDI) and the Revised Children's Manifest Anxiety Scale (RCMAS) wer e used. Data were compared with data previously obtained by others for heal thy Swedish children. Children and adolescents on treatment showed levels o f self-esteem, depression and anxiety comparable to those of healthy childr en. However, children and adolescents off treatment reported higher depress ion and anxiety levels and lower psychological well-being and physical self -esteem than have been reported for healthy Swedish children. Seven childre n (14%) reported a high level of depression, six of whom were off treatment . The findings suggest that the period after treatment termination is chara cterized by a higher risk of psychosocial problems than is the actual treat ment period.