Transtorno de estresse pós-traumático e percepção sobre a doença em jovens sobreviventes de câncer infantil

Abstract

Childhood cancer is a group of diseases characterized by uncontrolled proliferation of abnormal cells. Despite advances in science and medicine, making the survival rate reaches 80% on average, the disease is still considered threatening, and the treatments are painful and invasive. This experience can lead to psychological consequences, among them Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or the presence of its symptoms. Thus, the aim of this thesis was to investigate the presence of PTSD symptoms in young survivors of childhood cancer through two studies, one systematic review and one empirical. The systematic review study, presented in session 1, attempted to investigate the presence and prevalence of PTSD symptoms in childhood cancer survivors, factors associated with the disorder and clinical implications. Higher indices of PTSD symptoms were identified when compared to general population. Variables as age, age at diagnosis, PTSD symptoms in parents and beliefs about health and illness were associated with PTSD. We pointed out the need for specific clinical interventions for this population. The empirical study presented in session 2 was conducted with 65 adults and adolescents with the mean age of 19, who had completed the treatment, at least one year before, in a public hospital in Porto Alegre. The main objective was to investigate the presence of PTSD symptoms and its relation to illness perception in these survivor patients. It also examined the relationship between the PTSD symptoms and the clinical and sociodemographic variables. Questionnaires were IPQR-H – Revised Illnes Perception Questionnaire for Healthy People, to assess the perception of the disease, the PCL-C-PTSK checklist – Civilian Version and SPTSS- Screen for Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and a questionnaire of clinical and sociodemographic date. The rates of PTSD symptoms ranged 9.2% to 18.5% in the sample, with no significant differences between men and women. Significant correlations were found between PTSD symptoms and some dimensions of illness perception. No significant associations were found between clinical and sociodemographic variables and PTSD symptoms. The illness perception was a predictor of PTSD symptoms in survivors of childhood cancer. Thus, we identified that the illness perception should be investigated in childhood cancer survivors in order to act in the prevention and treatment of PTSD symptoms in these patients. We highlight the importance of psychological counseling throughout the treatment and after the treatment during the period required for rehabilitation of these patients social life.