Depression, anxiety and executive functions in pediatric patients after acute leukemia treatment: a comparative study with siblings

• Grant number: 17/04483-7
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Effective date (Start): June 01, 2017
• Effective date (End): May 31, 2019
• Field of knowledge: Humanities - Psychology - Human Development Psychology
• Cooperation agreement: Coordination of Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES)
• Principal researcher: Deborah Suchecki
• Grantee: Priscilla Brandi Gomes Godoy
• Home Institution: Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus São Paulo. São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Leukemias represent 30% of malignant neoplasms affecting children and Adolescents. The high survival rate of these patients have promoted studies about the long-term toxicity of this treatment to the organism, as well as about the consequences of the stress to which these children and adolescents are exposed. The parent's coping about their children's illness, family dynamics, and the patient's performance in executive function tests have already been associated with the way patients cope themselves, from the emotional and behavioral point of view. The objective of the present study was to investigate the occurrence of anxiety and depression, as well as deficits in executive functions in children and/or adolescents survivors after treatment for acute leukemia, and investigate this aspects in their siblings and children and/or adolescents in typical development too. For this purpose, 30 children and adolescents between 6 years old and 17 years and 11 months old, of both sexes, considered free from disease after treatment for acute leukemia for at least six months will be evaluated. For the control groups will be evaluated 30 patient's siblings and 30 children and adolescents in typical development. Data collection will be carried out in the A.C. Camargo Cancer Center and Núcleo de Atendimento Neuropsicológico Infantil Interdisciplinar (NANI) in two different moments with interval of one week. For the neuropsychological measures will be used the following tests: Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Functions (BRIEF) - parents version; Wechsler Scale of Intelligence for Children - 4th Edition (WISC IV), or Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Adults - 3rd Edition (WAIS III); Developmental Neuropsychological Assessment (NEPSY II), or Five Digit Test (FDT); Continuous Performance Test (CPT). For the behavioral and stress assessment, salivary cortisol will be collected and the following instruments will be used: Stress Scale for Children (ESI), or Stress Scale for Adolescents (ESA); Sandra Prince-Embury resilience scale for children and adolescents; Child Behavior Checklist - (CBCL) - parents version. The primary caregiver of all the children and adolescentes will also answer the Beck Depression Inventory and the Trait-State Anxiety Inventory (IDATE). For the statistical analysis, will be used descriptive analysis, ANOVA, multiple linear regression analysis and correlation analysis. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

GODOY, PRISCILLA BRANDI GOMES; SIMIONATO, NATALIA MARIA; DE MELLO, CLAUDIA BERLIM; SUCHECKI, DEBORAH. Assessment of Executive Functions after Treatment of Childhood Acute Lymphoid Leukemia: a Systematic Review. NEUROPSYCHOLOGY REVIEW, v. 30, n. 3, JUL 2020. (17/04483-7)

GOMES GODOY, PRISCILLA BRANDI; DE MELLO, CLAUDIA BERLIM; POMPEIA, SABINE; LIMA DA COSTA, CECILIA MARIA; CYPRIANO, MONICA DOS SANTOS; SUCHECKI, DEBORAH. Preserved executive functioning and low stress symptoms in children treated for acute lymphoblastic leukemia. APPLIED NEUROPSYCHOLOGY-CHILD, AUG 2020. (17/04483-7)