Psychosocial aspects in pediatric rheumatology.

ABSTRACT

UNLABELLED PURPOSE OF THIS ARTICLE To review recent publications examining psychosocial adjustment to and coping with a pediatric rheumatic disease. RECENT FINDINGS: The articles discussed illustrate important areas of psychological vulnerability and potential risk for disturbance in affected children and adolescents within their environment. SUMMARY: Children and adolescents with rheumatic diseases and their families face a multitude of psychosocial challenges. Some of these are related to the illness directly, some to treatment. There is need for more systematic research, including multicenter studies, to identify psychosocial needs of patients and their families.