Post-traumatic stress symptoms in childhood brain tumour survivors and their parents

Bruce, M., Gumley, D., Isham, L., Fearon, P. and Phipps, K. (2011) Post-traumatic stress symptoms in childhood brain tumour survivors and their parents. Child: Care, Health and Development, 37 (2). pp. 244-251. ISSN 0305-1862 doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2214.2010.01164.x

Abstract/Summary

Objectives This study aimed to investigate post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) in childhood brain tumour survivors and their parents. A further aim was to explore the relationship between objective illness parameters, parent–child interactions, coping styles and PTSS. Methods A cross-sectional correlational design was employed. Fifty-two childhood brain tumour survivors, aged 8–16, and 52 parents completed a battery of questionnaires designed to assess quality of parent–child interactions, monitoring and blunting attentional coping styles and PTSS. Results Over one-third (35%) of survivors and 29% of their parents reported severe levels of PTSS (suggestive of post-traumatic stress disorder ‘caseness’). Increased parent–child conflict resolution for survivors and number of tumour recurrences for parents independently predicted the variance in PTSS. Conclusions For a substantial proportion of brain tumour survivors and their parents the process of survivorship is a considerably distressing experience.