Abstract:OBJECTIVE: To study the psychosocial status of the parents of children with thalassemia. METHODS: One hundred and six couples whose children had thalassemia (212 cases) were interviewed, including 46 couples of thalassemia minor children (Group 1), 35 couples of thalassemia intermedia children (Group 2), 25 couples of thalassemia major children (Group 3). The parents' psychosocial status was assessed by SCL 90 (a self evaluated table on the clinical psychological syndrome) and questionnaire specifically prepared for parents of children with thalassemia. Forty eight couples (96 cases) of healthy children were used as controls. RESULTS: Of the 212 parents, 132 ( 62.3% ) had little information about thalassemia and some even had a misconception about this disorder; 189 ( 89.2% ) had apprehension about their children's poor growth development, and even had misgivings of a short life span; 176 ( 83.0% ) had a guilty conscience about their children's condition; 126 ( 59.4% ) avoided talking about their children's illness with their friends and relatives for fear that their children would not be accepted socially. Of the 50 parents whose children had major thalassemia, 30 ( 60.0% ) considered that their children's illness affected their work adversely; 48 ( 96.0% ) lacked confidence in the treatment of thalassemia because of poor economic support. Compared with the controls, the general symptomatic index and subscale scores on depression and anxiety in SCL 90 were higher in the three experimental groups (P< 0.05 ). The general symptomatic index and the scores of most SCL 90 subscales including somatization, obsessive compulsive, interpersonal sensitivity, hostility and panic were higher in Group 3 than those in Group 1 and Group 2 (P< 0.05 ). CONCLUSIONS: Parents of children with thalassemia are likely to be affected psychologically in various ways.
