Pediatric bone marrow transplantation: Psychopathologic features in recipients along with siblings

Objective: To analyze the development of psychopathology in recipients along with their donor and nondonor siblings and the relationship with the bone marrow transplantation (BMT) process.

Methods: All children were interviewed using the Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia to assess psychopathology. The depression and anxiety symptoms and self-esteem of children and adolescents were evaluated using the Children's Depression Inventory, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale.

Results: In this study, the depressive symptom level was found significantly higher in the donor group compared with the nondonor group. State anxiety symptoms were higher in the BMT group (P < .05). There were no significant differences in trait anxiety symptoms. Self-respect was higher in children in the donor group compared with those in the BMT group (P < .05). During the transplant process, children with bone marrow transplants had a higher prevalence of depression, anxiety disorder, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and nondonor siblings had a higher prevalence of depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder compared with society in general.

Conclusion: Physicians should deal with the family as a whole, not just their patient, and should be aware of the psychiatric risk of other siblings during the assessment.