The concept of “emotional distress” as a possible indicator of maladaptation in children/adolescents with oncological and oncohematological diseases and their caregivers

Abstract

According to biopsychosocial approach in modern standards of medical care for oncological patients one of the integral component is attention to the psycho-social functioning of both the patient and his family members. The issues of confirmation of adaptation/maladaptation criteria is particularly important for developing effective models of psycho-social support of treatment and rehabilitation, methods of identification and monitoring of families in need for various types of psychological support. International organizations recommend in their manuals the use of regular screening of emotional distress as an integrative assessment of the patient psychological conditions. They define distress as a “sixth life indicator” in addition to body temperature, breathing, blood pressure, pulse and pain. The article summarizes the basic information about the concept of “emotional distress”, analyzes the possibilities and limitations of its use as a criterion for assessing maladaptation in the treatment process. The feasibility of implementing this concept and the corresponding measurement method in the Russian practice of psychological support of pediatric patients and theirfamilies at different stages of treatment is shown. The article substantiates the possibility of using this criterion for rapid and reliable identification of the need for additional (psychological/psychiatric) care in relation to the treatment of the underlying disease of the child; to monitor the dynamics of the emotional state of patients and their parents at each stage of treatment.