An interdisciplinary group for parents of children with hemangiomas

Parents are shocked by the unexpected appearance and growth of hemangiomas, the most common benign tumors of childhood, yet parents' psychosocial needs are largely ignored. A psychoeducational/self-help pilot group for parents is described in this article. The Mental Health Inventory and a 44-i...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inPsychosomatics (Washington, D.C.) Vol. 35; no. 6; p. 524
Main Authors Kunkel, E J, Zager, R P, Hausman, C L, Rabinowitz, L G
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published England 01.11.1994
Subjects
Adaptation, Psychological
Adult
Attitude to Health
Child
Child Welfare
Child, Preschool
Family Health
Hemangioma - pathology
Humans
Parents - psychology
Pilot Projects
Self-Help Groups
Skin Neoplasms - pathology
Stress, Psychological - psychology
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Summary:Parents are shocked by the unexpected appearance and growth of hemangiomas, the most common benign tumors of childhood, yet parents' psychosocial needs are largely ignored. A psychoeducational/self-help pilot group for parents is described in this article. The Mental Health Inventory and a 44-item questionnaire were used to gather pertinent biopsychosocial data. Parents were more distressed and had less of a sense of well-being than the general population. Medical complications were significantly associated with the couple's distress (P < 0.05). Parental perception of hemangiomal surface area or site was not correlated with parental distress. Therapists clinically assessed parental distress, presented coping strategies for parents and families, and discussed medical information about hemangiomas and normal childhood development.
ISSN:0033-3182
DOI:10.1016/S0033-3182(94)71721-7