Evaluation of Psychosocial Morbidity among Children and Adolescents with Beta-Thalassemia Major

Abdelaziz, Ghada Abdelaziz Mohamed; Elsafi, Osama Roshdy; Abdel Fattah, Nelly R.; Abdelazeem, Mahmoud

doi:10.21608/ejhm.2023.286036

Evaluation of Psychosocial Morbidity among Children and Adolescents with Beta-Thalassemia Major

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

10.21608/ejhm.2023.286036

Abstract

Background: Thalassemia major (TM) is a long-term illness that affects the child and family emotionally and psychologically.
Aim: To assess the existence of psychiatric symptoms in thalassemia-affected children and teenagers, such as hysteria, somatic symptoms, obsessive symptoms, depressive symptoms, anxiety, and phobic anxiety.
Subjects and methods: This is a case-control study that included 42 children and adolescents who have transfusion-dependent beta-thalassemia major and 42 healthy controls. All patients underwent Psychological assessment using a questionnaireby The Arabic version of the Child Behavior Check List (CBCL/6-18).
Results: There was a significant difference between the two groups regarding total problems grades that were clinical and borderline in cases more than in the control group.
Conclusion: The Arabic version of the Child Behavior Check List identifies behavioral and psychological issues in patients with beta-thalassemia major.

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