Post traumatic Stress Symptoms in Childhood Cancer
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms in Young People with Cancer and Siblings.
IRAS ID
120995
Contact name
Anita D'Urso
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Research and Business Services
Research summary
The last 35 years have seen huge advances in the treatment of childhood cancer with a substantial increase in survival rates. However, more advanced and aggressive treatment has been associated with a range of physical and psychological late effects such as symptoms of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD; Eiser, 1998).
The current study aims to examine the rates of PTSS (posttraumtic stress symptoms) in children with cancer and siblings. As it is believed that rates of PTSD are modest in the current population, this study will examine rates of PTSS (sub-clinical levels of posttraumatic stress symptoms) in this population. Given that screening measures will be utilised, a diagnosis of PTSD cannot be indicated and therefore PTSS will be examined. Comparing children with chronic illnesses and their siblings enables researchers to understand how diagnosis and treatment can impact on long term physical and mental health (Wacholder, Silberman, Mc Laughlin & Mandel, 1992).
Previous research has also been limited by the fact that it has not incorporated empirical models of PTSD (Bruce, 2006). Therefore, the current study will examine whether the cognitive model of PTSD can provide a useful framework for understanding this phenomenon in childhood cancer.
Given the shortcomings outlined above, we plan to measure the rates of PTSS of children with cancer who have been diagnosed and treated for cancer in East Anglia. We also plan to measure unhelpful coping strategies following diagnosis and treatment as well as levels of social support and family functioning to observe whether these are linked to PTSS, as outlined by the cognitive model of PTSD. It is hoped that this will help us understand rates of PTSS in this population and to highlight factors which may contribute to the disorder in order to provide effective treatments for this population group in the future.REC name
East of England - Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
13/EE/0143
Date of REC Opinion
25 Jun 2013
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion