The relationship between cognitive and neuroimaging outcomes in children treated for acute lymphoblastic leukemia with chemotherapy only: A systematic review.

Cognitive late-effects have been identified in patients treated with chemotherapy-only protocols for childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), yet the underlying neuropathology is not well understood. This review synthesized recent findings from eight articles investigating the relationship between neurocognitive and neuroimaging outcomes for patients treated for ALL with chemotherapy-only protocols. Reported cognitive domains, imaging methods, and neuroanatomy examined were variable.

Family Psychosocial Risk Screening in Infants and Older Children in the Acute Pediatric Hospital Setting Using the Psychosocial Assessment Tool.

Objective: To examine the validity of the Psychosocial Assessment Tool (PAT) with families of infants (<2 years) and children admitted to hospital with acute life-threatening illnesses.

Methods: A total of 235 parents of 177 children admitted to oncology, cardiology, or pediatric intensive care completed the PAT and measures of acute stress, trait anxiety, family functioning, and quality of life, a mean 3.7 weeks following diagnosis.

Parent distress reactions following a serious illness or injury in their child: a protocol paper for the take a Breath Cohort Study.

Background: Diagnosis of life threatening childhood illness or injury can lead to significant distress reactions in parents, with many experiencing clinically significant levels of post-traumatic stress symptoms. These symptoms can have long-term adverse impacts on parent mental health, family functioning, and the adjustment of the ill child. Independent studies have found such reactions in several different illness groups.

Psychosocial risk in families of infants undergoing surgery for a serious congenital heart disease.

Objective: The aim of this study was to explore the acute psychosocial risk in families with infants undergoing surgery for a congenital heart disease and, secondarily, to explore the psychosocial impact of antenatal versus post-natal diagnoses.

Method: The study sample comprised 39 caregivers (28 mothers) of 29 children diagnosed with a congenital heart disease and requiring surgery within the first 4 weeks of life. Psychosocial risk was measured using the Psychosocial Assessment Tool, which was adapted to include four novel items examining infant risk factors, namely, sleeping, feeding, crying, and bonding difficulties.