Group Counseling for Children with Chronic Illness Is Effective

. . . and the benefits are enhanced when parents participate.

Children with chronic illness often experience painful medical procedures, restriction of activities, and adverse effects on academic achievement and social competency. Treatments designed to help children cope with psychosocial stresses of specific chronic illnesses have been reported but with limited long-term outcomes. Researchers in the Netherlands tested the efficacy of group cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in 194 children (age range, 8–18 years) with type 1 diabetes (35%), kidney disease (16%), autoimmune disease (11%), asthma (7%), or other chronic illnesses. Study participants were randomized to receive a child-only CBT intervention (4–8 children/group), the child CBT intervention plus a parallel parent intervention, or a wait-li…

Reviewing Author

Martin T. Stein, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory boardPearson Neuroscience Advisory Board

Speaker’s bureauAmerican Academy of Pediatrics

RoyaltiesElsevier, Inc.

Editorial boardsJournal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics

Martin T. Stein, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory boardPearson Neuroscience Advisory Board

Speaker’s bureauAmerican Academy of Pediatrics

RoyaltiesElsevier, Inc.

Editorial boardsJournal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics

Group Counseling for Children with Chronic Illness Is Effective

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Reviewing Author